INTRODUCTION

I do not begin painting with the end in mind; I am more focused on the process than the outcome of the painting. The final piece becomes the result of an organic push and pull between materials and principals. It all begins by simply preparing a ground or surface. This warms up the spirit. Then I build upon a foundation that I can counter or react against. I may cover a hot dark field by scumbling a cool compliment of local color. Perhaps laying an armature of lines that will underpin a texture for caked on layers of paint. I am drawn to paint with traditional media, oils, conte and gauche. I do my best to push them around with energy and intuition. I become fixated on mark making and often struggle with the plasticity of the image. I intend to create depth in an image, and an exciting dynamic without relying on the formal language used by traditional subjective painters. I will take the space and flatten it out with broad strokes or purposeful lines. At times I will deliberately wash out a precious or successful part of a painting in order to keep some freedom for the process and myself. These small resolved portions of the image become more important than the whole image, unless they are countered, destroyed or eliminated.

Recently my focus has been on the landscape. This has allowed me to explore my connection with nature and the land. This experience is very personal to me. I spend about half my time painting in nature and photographing the landscape. Most of my work has been from the spring and fall and almost exclusively morning light. I enjoy slightly overcast and cool weather. I like the flatness and melancholy it brings. I especially enjoy mist or haze in large open spaces because of how it identifies the planes in an expanse, simplifying the background or horizon from the foreground. We are all a small part of the landscape. Spending time alone in nature allows me to be contemplative and introspective. I do not try to capture a single moment. My goal is to be informed by all the changes in light, color and atmosphere. Just as with my mark making I try to leave some history of the process I hope to keep bits and pieces of the time and space observed.