Statement / Bio / CV.pdf

Vision
It is inspiring to see the beauty in natural forms, and to represent this experience through the physical activity of drawing or painting is a great pleasure.

As I work, I imagine being inside of things, feeling the energy of the forms, the motion of the elements. I want to involve my whole being in translating these sensations, weaving everything together in a solid underlaying fabric, regardless of the reality of the thing depicted as visible or hidden, or alive or elemental.

My intuitive theme is to express the human form as an abstract symbol of transformation. I see the figure as “energy” in the landscape setting as a narrative to support a deeper inquiry about the spiritual side- a way to renew a feeling for the magic and mystery in life.

Practice
In the progress of a idea, I use a variety of media and techniques: pencil, charcoal, and watercolor sketches, reference photos, and digital paintings. To enlarge an image onto a canvas, I use tracings, gridded renderings or a projector.

I leverage acrylic paint for its great versatility and rapid drying. I can quickly add layers, reshape existing forms, or build texture. This promotes a marriage of spontaneity and deliberation. I often remove areas of semi-dried paint, to allow for hidden patterns to emerge, and to create additional detail.

The joy of painting directly with no preliminaries, in a pure exploration, perhaps with random leftover colors- is the counterpoint to the careful building of compositions in stages. I strive to unite these methods, to reflect a balance of control and abandon.

For me, a painting is also very much a hand-made physical object. There is deep satisfaction in working with fine materials, and in the process, refining techniques, methods, and procedures. I want to craft an icon of power and beauty- as well as express a purposeful vision. I believe the work should stimulate the physical senses, as well as act upon the heart and spirit.

History
I grew up in within an artistic and nature-loving family. Drawing, painting, and studying birds was my early passion. A sense of the mystical grew in me, and I began to explore spiritual ideas and practices like yoga and meditation. A recurrent theme emerged in my paintings, reflecting these interests.

Early Influences
I began to study art voraciously. At first I wanted to emulate the great bird painters- Audubon, Roger Tory Peterson, Robert Bateman. Before long, this fascination gave way towards the Visionary painters, the Surrealists- Dali, Matt Klarwin, and the other great album artists of the ‘70’s. They provided a roadmap for my early attempts to create an imagined world of the invisible energy of things.

My first real job was mixing and matching custom paint colors in a paint store. But I was restless, itching to work independently and started to take on commercial art jobs like sign-painting. Most of my friends were musicians. They wanted murals and fancy lettering on their vehicles, so I learned to work with airbrushes, stenciling, sign brushes etc, working in barns and garages. Meanwhile, I did my own work in bedroom studios, and exhibited paintings for the first time at the local public library.

My commercial art career blossomed when I took a live/work studio space in a dedicated artist building. My exposure to other artists, photographers, and designers led to large backdrop projects for advertising photography and trade show exhibits. TBC

Collaborations
In addition to my commercial art projects, I enjoy an art-making collaboration with Vermont artist Vanessa Compton. Our works address nature, spirituality, and the contemporary human condition in combinations of collage, mixed media, and painting.