Artist Statement

“Like a performer on the stage, the act of creation puts me in another dimension. When I paint, I create a story, this gives the viewer a chance to participate in my work.” I create large scale abstract acrylic paintings using collage and mixed media. When I place my canvas on my easel and start to apply my paint I never know the end result since the passion takes over my body and I begin to create. I experiment by collecting and incorporating a variety of materials from the earth. Sometimes I use tar, sand from the beach, I have even used clay on canvas. I sometimes will mask off my paintings and add colored string or colored tree limbs. In other words, I hunt for interesting materials that are not conventionally used in paintings.

I also like using black and red; I think the red on the black gives my art a rich feeling. When I put the thick red on the black, it immediately goes back to that Japanese style, that Zen sensibility. I feel that I am in the world and my body is in the painting, this makes me feel alive.Adding even just one symbol pulls a painting together and gives it meaning. I use a lot of Asian calligraphy, symbols, or the face of a Zen philosopher as an inspiration for collage in my work. When I paint with Asian influences it gives the painting a sense of Zen and peacefulness. In some of my other work I use primitive symbols to create a cave-drawing-like effect. This also brings life to my canvas.

Just as the Asian and primitive symbols add meaning to my work, I also use a trowel to create different patterns which gives the painting a new life. Sometimes I use my stir stick to paint straight out of the paint can. Often, after I put a gesso layer down, I will immediately mix my colors right into the wet gesso giving it a “rich” look.

I know in my spirit that my soul emerges when I paint. I don’t know what colors I am going to use. I simply pick up my trowel and open up a color and start applying paint to the canvas. Like a performer on the stage, the act of creation propels me to another dimension. It’s almost like my angels guide me when I paint. It’s not really me painting, but my soul takes over. Like a performer on the stage, the act of creation puts me in another dimension. When I paint, I create a story, this gives the viewer a chance to participate in my work.