I have always been an artist, even when I wasn’t physically creating something. I remember as a child, breaking down objects and nature into shapes and color by squinting my eyes. It’s what artists do to simplify and clarify. We tend to look at the world around us differently. Art is not about copying nature, but more about expressing intangible ideas, experiences and emotions. I consider myself a 3-dimensional artist as well as a painter because I work in wood and metal. Recently, I have been working with the concept of infinite space creating shapes and forms on canvas without conscious reference to known objects. My current work is very “stream of conscious”, reacting in the moment, using vibrant color, rough texture and taking advantage of accidents as they happen.

 I can be somewhat literal or abstract in my interpretations, depending on the idea I’m trying to express. I often paint with tools other than brushes because it helps free me up. I like to leave the road open so one media can lead to another and one mark might suggest another

To state the obvious then, Art is experimental for me and very much about "risk taking”

I really love the creative process and use alternative materials and surfaces in my work.

Occasionally, I find myself looking at discarded objects and wondering what I can create from them. There always seems to be that “What If” question and it translates into a mix of surface and media. It is about applying and removing paint, pastel, ink, and pencil.  It is about working and reworking the surface and pushing the boundaries of the creative process. That’s what keeps it interesting and fresh for me.

 I like canvas because I can work the surface and build up layers.  I like paper because it absorbs. I like metal for it opaqueness and reflectivity. I like wood because I can shape and form it.  I’m really not satisfied unless I’ve discovered something new in each work I create. I see my work as an evolutionary process: Starting with an idea or concept, I tend to  “Compose as I Go”, applying media to the substrate, building up layers and manipulating the surface. Although my work tends to be abstract, I am very much in control of composition, color, and design.

Recently, I have begun to use digital media and image enhancement software as additional tools. Using a digital print process, I can combine the working image with other media or paint back into the work in progress. Current influences include the works of Hans Hofmann, Franz Kline, DeKooning, Kandinsky and Diebenkorn. My goal is always to simplify an idea, distill the visual facts and capture the emotional aspects or mood. Like a performance, a work of art does not live until it has been seen and experienced by an audience. "I believe that an artist needs to make a connection between his own imagination and that of the viewer to be truly successful.