Artist Statement
I am either lucky or cursed with my overactive imagination, but it seems to serve my artistic life well. I have more ideas of what to paint than time; it’s part of what drives me, the desire to give all my ideas a life. My focus is still life and portraiture, which I execute in oil.
I often paint my still life work with the intention of giving the viewer something to gnaw on. I employ objects in the same way a child would when playing make believe. This approach allows for a lot of freedom in which to explore the unending psychological nuances of the human condition. Witnessing the interpretation of others reveals the intricacies of the human mind, which has been formed and molded by their unique life experiences.
There is nothing more interesting to humans than humans. The complexity of emotions that a face can assume never fails to amaze me. I’m fascinated by our ability to read and react to each other whether studying a painting, photograph or living person. I enjoy all the stages of painting a portrait, especially as it nears completion and my subject’s uniqueness emerges from the canvas.
I enjoy using different paint applications within a painting. I experiment with pushing selected areas of color and paint handling which unarguably makes the painting less unified (in the context of realism). I then spend a great deal of time arguing with myself about my decisions but ultimately these deliberate preferences override what I know I should be there for what excites my senses. Some “wabi-sabi” is good for the soul.
"I have a monkey on my back whose name is Art. Some days we live in harmony but most days he's greedy, always wanting more of me." llg