Being an artist is a vital part of my nature. It is as though an internal force is compelling me to create art.  As my body requires food to sustain it --- my mind, heart and soul needs a creative outlet.

 

I enjoy working in numerous media and the painting of varied subject matter, from landscapes, still lifes and portraits to abstracts.

 

I paint with oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media and render drawings with various types of pencils and inks.  My newest tools are digital art pens and an art tablet connected to a computor.  These have allowed me to explore and relish the creative potential of producing digital fine art paintings.  Perhaps the greatest creative difference from painting with  oil or acrylic is its ability to save and store a painting at various stages of progress.  What a sense of freedom to experiment and play with images this brings to an artist working in digital format.  The fear factor is gone and the creative spirit is free to soar.  Unlike oil painting where your brush or colors have gone astray and you feel your painting is not worth saving without  a tremendous amount of work,  with digital painting you can always go back to a saved image and enjoy the ease of a do over or the freedom to just delete it.  What fun!  Another great tool added to all the others I love to create with.

 

When painting realistically, I start with a preconceived idea of what the final art will be.  I may have a still life set up before me or may have done a  preliminary sketch of a landscape which I want to turn into a painting.  Sometimes I draw directly on the canvas with pencil or charcoal, while other times I sketch it on with thinned paint. The process followed is dependent on what media is being used  and the vision I have for the painting.  Regardless of the process, I love every aspect of it and each step leads me to the final painting and is an integral part of the creative process.  I always employ the best products and paint following archival requirements.

 

With abstracts, I sometimes find it difficult to follow a set plan.  The logical side of my brain often surrenders control to a subconscious creative side and I intuitively develop  the abstract painting.  Painting abstracts seems to free my creative spirit.  Time means nothing to me as I am swept along in this creative adventure.  All encompassing. I sometimes feel like I am one with my painting.  It is a part of me.  I am part of it.  All the knowledge and experience gained in my lifetime have come together at this moment in time to create this painting.

 

I hope my art will capture and hold the viewers interest and provide a pleasant visual  experience.