Series: Happy Visions

2016

This series is the culmination of many styles that I have been developing over the years. They have finally come together in this bright, mod series.

SERIES: Live Fast

2015

This series of new minimalist, memory paintings is a reflection on my years of life thus far.  Turning fifty sparked an idea to creatively explore my life.  They are abstract paintings with a very limited pallet of three colors. The addition of the numbers takes it from merely abstracts to conceptual works. The heavily worked backgrounds are representational of stone.  A strong footing,  or foundation if you will. Representing family. They are depicted in the hopeful white color. The red, and black, both very visually bold, and represent both experiences, and decisions made. You will notice the shadows do not always line up. This is intentional.  As life doesn’t always make sense, and often there is more than one influence illuminating us, and causing shadows over us.

Although these are created from my experience, the viewer can not help, but immediately have their own personal reaction to the work because of the year, and the starkness of the image. As with any minimal work the composition of the piece is critical. Where your eye goes creates the narrative of the piece. I also feel the separation of the gloss of the enamel , and the matte of the gessoed background, add to my sometimes hazy memories, of both positive, and negative recollections.

SERIES: Patchwork

2014

In this series of paintings I worked in abstracts based on landscapes. I’ve always enjoyed abstracts that have an element of realism in them. The eye wants to, “figure out”, what’s going on. Allowing for a realistic element seems soothing to my eye. The problem I run into is when my abstracts become too realistic. Then I have to rely on the design of the line, and the compositions balance.  I’ve been incorporating the patchwork, or brick laying overlaps in the asymmetrical smaller elements, while keeping the overall painting symmetrical. 

For years I have worked on the textural backgrounds of my paintings, and then applied a foreground element. The process now is to combine the two, making the background come forward as, the element of focus. My work has always been heavily material based. The plaster I use dictates some of the direction the painting will take. I believe each painting is a shared partnership between myself and the materials. 

Lastly as a St. Louis, Missouri artist, I enjoy the element of creating art from what can be discounted as ,”Fly Over Country”. The notion that culture, and talent can only reside on the coasts, is an irritant. This irritant is a motivator. These paintings can be seen as you look out your window, as you fly on to somewhere, “better”. I like to question motives, and beliefs. I like to show that sometimes what you dismiss, is really beauty itself.

SERIES: Do Over

2013

In this series of paintings I worked in abstracts based on inter-office politics.