Artist Statement

My paintings are an exploration of light as both a visible effect of nature and the ephemeral life force it has come to represent. In painting and in life there is no light without dark. This essential truth is a springboard for contrast in my work. I experiment with a variety of media that actually capture light or reflect it back to the viewer and lead the eye through the composition in a dynamic way. The use of luminous materials such as gold leaf and iridescent color, mixed with printmaking techniques, sculpture, fabric, acrylic, oil, pastel, wood and metal attract the eye to light dancing across the surface.

I am also exploring my love of the formal gesture used in Renaissance and Iconic religious art. In those paintings the presentation of a gift is analogous to the creative act of making art. My poems and the thoughts that I have while working, create a stream of consciousness of open-ended phrases which become part of the piece. This invites the viewer to bring his or her own interpretive experience into the work. Currently I am using borders, screens and visual obstacles placed to encourage the viewer to look for treasure, to see beyond the obvious, to risk everything and look toward the light.

My paintings often begin with a spill of paint or a random gesture across a surface and an intuitive pairing of opposites. Or I may begin with an initial idea that evolves through an exploration of materials leading me in a new and surprising direction. Whichever route I take the journey must end in a piece that says more than one thing and says it well.