Early in my graduate work, I recognized an increasing interest in the fundamental topic of the feminine role in our society as well as the challenge of translating it into a painted portrait.; The initial paintings were consistently a single stereotypical figure where the costume was emphasized as a means of identification and the environment seemed arbitrary.; I moved away from the general idea of the female stereotype as a vehicle for identification into the more specific and personal concept of lesbian female stereotypes. I am now able to exploit gender identifiers by specifically concentrating on masculine or "butch" imagery within the lesbian culture. After an entire series of these portraits, I realized they were becoming formulaic and stagnant.; This hard won revelation led me down ultimately divergent paths; linoleum prints of lesbian superhero, as opposed to, paintings that are trying to combine graphic elements with objects and traditionally modeled figurative work. Both bodies of work present an image of a strong, queer, female heroine.; My work is about the unfortunate truth that our life and identity is confined and defined by the stereotypes of identity.
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