Oil paint is a partner in my artistic process.
I am a California based artist. I paint landscapes and cityscapes inspired by the world around me. I also am inspired by travel to faraway places and times. Vintage photos and travel-related images often provide inspiration for my paintings. These paintings combine figurative and imaginary elements. I also like to explore pattern and will sometimes make large paintings exploring the variations of a single pattern.
My oil paintings are built up with several layers and I often paint wet into wet. This requires a balance between improvisation and intention. The transparency between layers creates vibration and uncertainty.
I also create charcoal from unique materials such as money, food, documents and plants. These materials have meanings that I can integrate into a drawing or painting. I have developed methods for applying these unconventional charcoals to surfaces. Sometimes I use found objects as templates. Often these relate to the meaning of a piece. These pieces are unique and rich in exploration.
