Memories, we all have them. Some memories fade when you grow older, others become more vivid. Memory can be in the form of a photograph or an mp3 file stored on the hard drive of a computer. Unfortunately, hard drives crash, taking with them a lifetime of precious moments. One thing we all share is the ability to close our eyes and visualize our thoughts. What we see are images stored in the hard drive of our mind, accessible at any moment in time – WIFI not required. My paintings are nature-based aquatic abstractions based on memory and a physical response to the environment I work in.
Carl Einstein, a German art historian and art critic claimed an artist should open up "to the ability of a picture's power to alter one's vision" and not be degraded by "becoming illustrators of someone else's creation”. All art begins with an idea, a starting point. My starting point can be anything as long as it is something tangible, something I can relate to - having a personal connection is key because it allows me to expand upon what I know, make new discoveries, explore unknown territories and build new realities. As the natural lighting in the studio changes throughout the day, I make new discoveries as I respond and move along the surface of each new painting. As I paint, I close my eyes and visualize how water looks in certain light, how it moves, etc. Multiple layers of pigmented wax are applied, using a heat source to fuse the wax to the underlying layers, binding each layer to the one beneath. Some layers are scraped away, revealing layers hidden below, creating different levels of transparency forming a composition similar to an aquatic environment. Having an emotional and physical response is an important part of my process, and I feel a sense of liberation when I use non-traditional methods for painting. Color is my delight and is the means I choose to convey both my philosophy and the mood of the painting.