Artist Statement

Using only oil paints and a fair amount of experimentation with Venetian turpentine and other glossy media, I create figurative works in vibrant primary color combinations. My work though is about texture as much if not more than color and form, and is accomplished using the ‘scupple’ technique. To scupple means to stretch a layer of paint with a pallet knife until it tears, exposing the surface which allows the "crack of colors", as a friend once suggested, to rise to the surface. Fascinated by the work of Matisse, the Fauves, and a host of other expressionist painters rather than blend my layers of paint and hide my brushstrokes, I layer my paints on top of or next to each other each stroke, obvious, intentional and integral. The effect has been I believe, best described as "a sea of contrast in a completely blended theme".  

At this time, all of my work is figurative. Likely, the ever present voice of my father saying "a picture without a person isn't very interesting" has a great deal to do with that, as do the bright colors and pallet knife technique, which were also his suggestions during my formative years. I suppose this debunks any fantasies I've had of leaving my childhood behind on this journey into being myself...welcome to my website, thanks for visiting and please drop me a line and share your thoughts.