This series was created while studying abroad in the OCAD University's Florence Off-Campus Studies Program during the 2015-2016 academic year.  While working in Italy, the incredible Renaissance sculptures and paintings were around every corner.  I was particularly interested in the various expressive representations of hands by the diverse group of artists.  Hands are the equivalent to humans. We immediately connect to the hand, as it is the source of much of our experience, how we feel our way through the world, how we interact with our environments.  A focus on the hand makes us aware that there is a person beyond the picture plane.  This forges a connection through which the viewer becomes invested in the life of that individual.  There is such expressive potential in hands, and I love that each person will interpret the emotion being depicted in their own way.  Some works are based on Renaissance sculptures, while others come out of experiments with colour and shape.