"Winter I was originally created for a group show at Gallery Nucleus called 'A Few of My Favorite Things.' Up until this point I had really only done personal work in my sketchbook. I had a strong desire to create personal pieces, but lacked the confidence and courage to believe in my own ideas. This image changed everything. I stripped away all that I didn't want to paint, shed all the expectations I felt others had of me and painted exactly what I wanted...nothing else. This image became the foundation for a series of winter-themed paintings and led to my first two-man gallery show (Yugen) with Jeffrey Alan Love at Ghostprint Gallery in Richmond, Virginia."