ARTIST STATEMENT
I work primarily in mixed media on wood panels. In one way my subject matter is an evolution of the thought process. I paint about things that move me to paint. My subject matter is an evocation resulting from a visceral reaction to life’s situations, philosophical beliefs, and bits of information that I may hear or read. These things start a thought process that I feel compelled to address in my work. Although upon initiating a piece I often have a specific agenda or theme, I frequently allow my materials to guide me towards a statement that may be completely unrelated to my original intent. The statement then becomes an evolution of the creative process. The finished pieces are a result of combining both the creative process and introspection, and represent glimpses of my thoughts, ideas, emotions, and philosophies.
I am intrigued by the emergence and submergence of words and images in the painting process, and how it parallels thoughts and ideas that emerge from, or a submerged in, our own consciousness. Just as we form these thoughts, ideas, and philosophies by building layers of information and “scraping away” what we deem unnecessary or invalid, so I do with paint, symbols, words, and images. The contradicting aspects of religion versus existentialism, rational thought versus irrational thought, the conscious versus the subconscious, and the intentional versus the “accidental” are themes I frequently deal with. How much of what we do is conscious choice? How much of what we think and do is influenced by, or perhaps even “controlled” by mass media, religion, or the government? How often are we blindly conforming to the “herd mentality”?
My ceramics pieces continue to reflect this same process. The layers of clay are applied and scraped away to create a three dimensional form which represent in the same way as do the layers of paint. How these layers are built up, cut, and scraped away to create a whole and complete piece, parallel the layers of experience in our human development. We are whole and complete with all of our layers, dents, dings, and scars (whether mental or physical, deep or superficial). Perfect in completeness at one particular moment in the spectrum of time and space.