I have always been inspired by paintings with sharp contrasts of light and dark. In fact, my desire to paint began after I saw a Caravaggio painting and was particularly inspired by the immense three-dimensionality, dramatic lighting, and emotional intensity in his work. Until then, I only used graphite pencils and became bored with the lack of color. This led me to try oil paint, and the rest is history. This body of work shows my initial flirtations with the style and how it continues to inform my work today.