"Growth patterns. Just before falling asleep. The strange familiar. Irrational exuberance.
Side effects. Parallel Play"
Because verbal and visual expression share a space deep within me, phrases like these
often spring up as inspiration for new work.
Many years ago “growth patterns” propelled me on a far-ranging exploration of the visible
beauty and invisible energy of the botanical world through mixed media and watercolor
paintings. In some of my paintings I continue to follow this theme while also appreciating
its support of my overall creative process.
A few years ago, when I began to experiment with layering veils of acrylic paint on paper,
a new phrase, "just before falling asleep," arose. I envisioned the shadowy cavalcade of
shifting images that sometimes flicker inside my closed eyelids when I'm about to fall
asleep. To my surprise, instead of depicting this amorphous twilight threshold, the paintings
portrayed a bright, clear, colorful alternative universe that combines elements of geometry,
architecture and movement with natural forms. This series is titled: “Summer Solstice.”
"The strange familiar" marked a return to botany with an increase in scale: huge awkward
blossoms transformed by stylized designs and multiple light sources in acrylic on canvas.
“Irrational exuberance” led to acrylic paintings that hint at recognizable forms, but are clearly
composed of colored shapes and gestural brushstrokes, forcing the viewer to consciously hold
two visual perceptions simultaneously or to toggle from one to the other.
“Side effects” is a current theme, coinciding with my use of stretched canvas as a support for
acrylic paint. I began a large canvas by composing from simple marks on the wrapped edge.
Organic and geometric forms emerged, this time suggesting lively urban and rural panoramas. I
paid attention to varying the edge quality of the forms, another interpretation of the theme. The
resulting series is titled: “Happy Town.” The compositions of my most recent pieces are based
on sections of the first canvas, yet another way to depict the concept of “side effect.” The muted
colors and soft shapes of these paintings convey subtle contemplative states that recall the “just
before falling asleep” theme.
In addition to deepening my trust of my own instinctive color sensibility, I have also been studying optical complements and the mechanics of the human eye to further my understanding
of how color and light on the surface affects the viewer’s response.
Manipulating color and shape with juicy paint while accessing deep unpredictable sources of
creativity gives me indescribable joy. I hope that by detecting this quality in my finished
paintings, viewers connect with the playful splendor of their own imaginations.