STATEMENT ABOUT THE WORK

 

I have worked in series almost entirely for the past twenty years.  The works shown in the gallery on this site are from some of those series. 

The following are some comments regarding the technique used and the themes employed.

 

Technique in General:  I have developed a technique of using acrylics involving a combination of painting, under painting, glazing, pouring and manipulation, and collage.  My collage technique I believe is unique to me.  It involves the making of images from mostly translucent acrylic material separate from the surface of the work and attaching them to the surface over what has already been painted or poured and manipulated. Color is often mixed “vertically” by stacking translucent color rather than by mixing color on a separate palette.  The result is a glowing effect and the appearance of glossy stained glass or overlapping broken glass.  

In my pastels and charcoals I also employ a peculiar technique I have developed over the years that involves extensive use of kneaded erasers in making images from pastel and charcoal material applied to the surface of the work.  Basic images are often made by erasure.

 

Primacy of Motion:   Historically there has been, in the development in art, a rivalry of sorts between form, color and line and so it is with my work except that I put more of an emphasis on motion as an additional element.  I see everything as being in a constant state of flux – even inanimate objects.  In this regard I use multiple overlapping images, I use swirling lines that indicate movement through air or water and I use flying or floating particles to indicate movement within space and the disruption of surroundings caused thereby.

 

Themes:  The themes of my work are living and survival, spiritual quest and warning.  Images used are metaphorical relating to these themes.  It has been said that the subject of art is art.  I believe this to be so but art itself is a part of all these themes I have listed.  I have used wild creatures for instance in the theme of life and the struggle to survive and, sometimes, as a warning of consequences that might occur in the future.  I have used dancers and musicians to put those very different art forms into a visual art form reaching for a spiritual understanding of our existence on this planet and our future.  I have also used native American dancers to reach out for spiritual understanding.  I have used the earth to touch upon all of these themes.