Artist Statement
What is that spark that ignites the formation of an idea……where does it come from…… where does it lead? As an artist, it takes me on a journey to explore the creative depths of my mind to find a visual way to express what resides there..
My internal mindscape consists of a lifetime of inspirational material gathered from everything I have ever seen or experienced. Memories of happiness, sadness, experiences, travels, art classes, knowledge gained or seemingly forgotten; all contained and waiting for the moment when a spark ignites to help them escape their boundaries. Perhaps a fleeting image remembered, or my emotional response to abstracted forms found in nature; plants or flowers swaying in the breeze, all aglow with color, or the interesting way light falls on manmade objects thus transforming them into inspiration for a painting.
I am drawn to create art, much as a composer is driven to compose music or a writer compelled to write. It is a part of who and what I am and what I will leave behind. For me it is very encompassing, satisfying and frustrating, sometimes all within one painting.
A lifetime of continuing study has given me the skills and knowledge to paint in the artistic style and medium that best represents my vision for each painting. I find the variety of choice interesting and very fulfilling. I enjoy creating art in many different media such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphite, mixed media, colored pencil and digital work . I love to have the choice to create with whatever will help fulfill my vision for my art whether it be abstracts, impressionistic, representational art or sculpture.
When painting abstractly I often work intuitively. My subconscious mind seems to take control over any preconceived intent and the painting develops a life and direction of its own. Each painting is a reflection or extension of my mood while painting it and often as it nears completion a name for it comes to mind.
My representational work is naturally a reflection of life with all it's nuances and I strive to bring my emotional response to it into my depiction of the art.
My hope is that my art will cause the viewer to pause, contemplate awhile and take away something meaningful from the experience and then decide that they can't live without it.