This series brings together my interests in decadence, rich paintings, and older cultures. Within those interests, I explore the particular roles that beauty, vanity, entitlement and virtue play in shaping aesthetic outcomes. Fashion, an outreach of beauty and vanity, figures in my work as a declaration of power and self-confidence, especially the styles of punk and other sub genres with their musical stance and anti-establishment tendencies. What was once considered counter-culture or unique is now so widely accepted that as an artist, the effect of these appearances superimposed on traditional ones has always been of interest.

My work is concerned with identity, and the ideas and representations of counter-culture and tradition. I wondered how the punk/gothic style might be adopted by aristocrats and social elites if it were part of their own decoration for serious portraits, ones that would be left as a reminder of their legacy. Traditionally, each portrait preserves what may later be a historical moment. In the case of this series however, the "historical" moments are of my own imagination. Between the peerage and costume research, I like to combine aristocractic traditions and names that sound Slavic, Latin, and Anglo in origin. And while they are all made up, it lends authenticity but in a surreal way.

I'm interested in ancient refinement, eccentricity and privileged culture -- all mingled with a bizarre fascination that draws in the viewer. Part of the experience for the viewer is to interact with these characters, imagine what they were like and maybe even recognize hints of themselves.