Artist Statement
I enjoy the physical act of painting.
I also have an affinity for the unpretentious honesty found in preliminary sketches and studies. Those simple, spontaneous gestures put down quickly to capture an idea, a feeling, the play of light, a shadow or a texture. Pieces that are not created as finished works of art. In many cases, these studies were never meant to be seen by anyone but the artist. They’re intuitive and very personal.
These physical and unscripted works have an abstract quality that’s void of details and extraneous colors. What’s left on the paper is the essence of the artist’s thoughts. To me, their aesthetic appeal is timeless. That’s how I approach my monochrome pieces. Not as direct renditions of my selected subject matter but as abstract expressions of the natural world that leave room for interpretation.
Using water-soluble oils on coated paper or high-density synthetic panels, I work quickly to develop the initial layers of line, texture and tone. The versatility of this medium gives me the opportunity to work back through sections of wet or drying paint with brushes, sharpened twigs, rags, sponges, palette knives and my fingers. Seen at a distance or studied up close for the graphic details, each finished piece invites the viewer to participate in a creative process where nothing is hidden.