In drawing from the traditions of both the grand portrait and the DIY genre of decorative pattern painting, my paintings start in a place of “pretty.” The subjects have a dysfunctional relationship with their environment and are increasingly violated by garish color, rough texture, and a surface sediment of opulent, store-bought, celebratory trash. Inspired by holiday photographs, family portraits, and the materiality of disposable decor, my paintings create a space for residual family nostalgia, providing a sense of familiarity and terror.