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| I
usually work in series, developing an idea, a body of work which is
consistent over a period of years. Within that series there are more specific bodies of work, somewhat like a compilation of short stories that revolve around a common theme. Whatever is going on in the world and my personal life is somehow reflected, sometimes more obviously than others, although my darkest points may produce my most uplifting work as a reflection of where I want to be. When I ask myself how I can make my life better, I usually answer by heading to the studio to paint. The surface of my paintings, although not the only thing I'd like you to examine, is extremely important. Much the way we humans adorn ourselves to attract others, it is that surface that will draw the viewer into a painting; a first impression. Knowing, or at least hoping that my work will be properly lit, I use many layers of translucent color and acrylic mediums to catch light and create an impression of depth. Two other components play very active roles in my work: Line and Color. I decided a while back that the color wheel had no place in my studio. My color selection is more of a gut feeling than anything else and there's really no way to explain that, nor do I see the benefit in questioning it at this point. I think that having worked in my family's wrought iron shop has greatly influenced the line quality in my paintings and drawings. I know the way steel bends and I think about it when I am drawing a line. If it seems awkward, I rethink it as if I were bending steel. It usually does the trick. I am influenced by music and its global appeal. As a former singer/songwriter I have gone from one form of art to another finding it easy to relate one to the other. I am influenced by architecture and how much it says about humanity. I am influenced by the balance of things, growth & decay, weathered beauty, and sexuality. I have been inspired by many artists, many times not so much by their artwork per say, but how they lived their lives as artists. I thank the late Jacob Lawrence for personally encouraging me to create. I thank my mother for teaching me about respect and my father for giving me the chance of a better life. That is humanity. That inspires me. | ||||||||||
