STEAMBOAT

Steamboat draws inspiration from the rhythmic clapping games of childhood—those playful, fast-paced chants like “Miss Susie Had a Steamboat” that were passed from one generation to the next on schoolyards and sidewalks. The artwork echoes the tempo and spontaneity of those moments, where repetition met surprise, and hands became instruments of both connection and creativity.
Created entirely without tools, this piece was formed through the physical movement of hands directly on the canvas—pushing, smearing, and layering pigment to capture the pulse and tension of a game in motion. The bold blue gestures feel almost choreographed, like synchronized claps mid-verse, while the surrounding bursts of softer color suggest fleeting moments of pause and laughter.
Steamboat isn’t just a nod to childhood—it’s an exploration of the marks we make when we lead with instinct, rhythm, and touch. It holds within it the energy of play, the power of presence, and the enduring imprint of movement turned into art. Acrylic on canvas, 36x60x2, finished with a white float frame.