"Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life."
Picasso said that. Picasso also used mixed media to convey his energy. When a painting doesn't quite tell the story, when it needs a little something... I love to add little snips of paper, fabric or stitching. My still life pieces aren't still. My flowers can't be taken at face value. There is always a little more to the story. These oils have hidden messages; text and imagery imbedded into the paint. The acrylics are layered painted canvas that has been scribed, etched and printed.
I love the work of Matisse. His freedom and abandon motivate me to take everyday scenes and make them whimsical and carefree. I try not to take everyday life too seriously.
My art reflects an optimism that life is good and meant to be embraced.
Who doesn't love the portraits of Andy Warhol? His in-your-face portraits and my love of printmaking motivated me to develop this process.
These paintings are large, mostly 30"-48". Small 3" blocks repeat the image of the subject. I carve these blocks using linoleum. Inspired by the grids of Chuck Close, I draw an overall grid to form the basis for the painting. Color is painted using very bold choices. The printing of the blocks is next, then the features are added in the final layer.
The effect is bold, graphic, and striking. I hope to capture the personality of the subject in an overall image that can't be ignored.
Sometimes I create a small block for each family member and combine them all into one composition. Pets, places and favorite objects are also used to unify a family theme.
I painted Mr. Clean for P & G several years ago and he remains my favorite of these portraits. He is magic, isn't he?
