Artist Profile
Art is an opinion and communicates a variety of
messages. Many times when I conceive a project I do not plan to
make a statement. Usually the idea is just something to do and
presents a place to begin. Inspiration comes from any state of
mind as it relates to the human condition. My muse for ideas come
from a mixture of sources, such as mediums, people, books,
philosophies, music and other artists.
Utilization of color is one of my strengths as an
artist. Color is emotional. The process begins with choosing a
medium and having a specific a concept. I appreciate the blending
qualities of oil paint because the drying process allows more time
to work within a painting. When painting in oil I use a very
limited palette and a particular color harmony because then the
colors I mix have unity and appeal. Acrylic paint as a medium is
an important source of ideas for me. I use it for versatility. I
am inspired by the range of possibilities acrylic paint lends to a
project. The development of my acrylic projects implement
layering, mixed media, epoxy, found objects and collage.
Chuck Close, Fred Tomaselli, Sheppard Fairy, and
Andy Warhol on different levels have all had an impact on my work.
Chuck Close's approach to portraiture and use of the grid as a
tool are a huge influence that is apparent my art. Inspiration
from Tomaselli has led to experiments with painting, found objects
and collage. These permutations express the dark side of the
content in my work aesthetically. Fairy and Warhol's philosophies
regarding concepts of pop culture and branding have had an effect
on my work. I also appreciate their use of screen printing,
stenciling and layering in fine art.
I work intuitively and many times my subject
matter takes on an expressive life of it's own. When beginning a
project, I may not intend to articulate a definite message but
through time, the message develops during the creative process and
has manifested as I produce a specific series of pieces. What
interests me is that the meaning and feelings are different for
every observer. My intent is to provoke an intense response. We
can connect on a variety of levels or not at all. My art reflects
mood, not necessarily my mood but an attitude of that particular
time, circumstance or event. For years, I have had to deal with
volumes of people on a daily basis perchance this is explains my
penchant to paint portraits that reflect strong emotions. Perhaps
my art can be humorous and dark in content, well art is not always
pretty but like people, it has a variety of expressions. I want to
paint humanity or inspire it.
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