Artist's Statement
Thanks for visiting my website.
I spent much of my work life confined to the world of words, so it was with great exhilaration that I discovered painting. I like to think that exhilaration is reflected in my work. For me, there is a directness in painting that I rarely experience when I'm working with words.
I started out painting in watercolor. In 2010 I switched to acrylics, at least for the time being. People ask which I like best, and it's hard for me to answer. Watercolor adds an element of randomness or chaos to an otherwise realistic painting that doesn't seem possible with acrylics or oils. But watercolor has the disadvantage that it's usually framed under glass. I like the directness of acrylic. When I painted in watercolor, a major challenge was to achieve vibrant, lively color. For me at least, the challenge of acrylic is to achieve the delicacy and subtlety that comes more easily in watercolor.
During the fall of 2019, just for the fun of it, took a course in palette knife painting. The technique grabbed hold of me. It demanded that I let go of all attempts a precision, and it was particularly suited to capturing the sparkling fall colors I was seeing outside. That work is represented in my newest online galleries, “Landscapes 2020" "Landscapes 2021, and Landscapes 2022."
As for process, I do much of my painting very early in the morning. I have always been an extreme morning person, waking up at what most people would call the middle of the night. Before I began to paint, this was a nuisance. Now early morning is the most satisfying part of the day, a time when I can focus entirely on painting, unhindered by stray thoughts or nagging obligations. Some call it discipline. I call it joy.
I 'd love to hear from you. Click on "contact" if you'd like to drop me an email.