Artist's Statement

As a painter I am committed to the representation of what I see. My exploration of the “subject” draws it’s beauty into me, becoming a part of me.

There is beauty everywhere and I crave it; to draw, to paint what I see pulls that beauty further into me, and I feel it become a part of me. That is why I am a figurative painter.

As a realist painter I often explore the relationship of nature to that of our hard city spaces. Each work explores the juxtaposition of lyricism against rigidity and static geometry, emotion in opposition to intellect, the human need for softness within our urban environment. Nature represents life; it’s passion and beauty.

In my portraits a person’'s essence is created not only in the representation of the subject, but through brushwork as well as pose, color and space. My narrative portraits capture an instant that reveals the spirit of the person in a particular moment in time, an intimacy.

Water Color

The spontaneity of watercolor forces an immediacy of determined action, for, as in live performance, it is that moment of putting the brush on the paper that counts. There are seldom second chances. And yet the process is also a deeply meditative one, as I slowly evolve a painting from my intention into a realty. For that reason I often create several versions of a painting, learning from each of them. This gathering of knowledge and understanding is one of the most exciting parts of my process.

Oil Painting

There is a different energy in working with oils. I work quickly, spontaneously and energetically, knowing that the media allows change and exploration at any time. There is a special excitement in attacking a canvas with the knowledge of the adventure before me.