Artists

About

Artist Statement

The eloquence and mystery of surrealism and symbolist painting has been a huge inspiration for me as an artist. DiChirico, Serusier, Cuno Amiet, and so many others have informed my work in ways that continue to enrich my own modest efforts. Mexican folk art and my frequent long-term trips to Mexico, as well as my extensive journey in Latin American literature, keep my vision fresh and replenished. I have recently completed a series of work on the Aztec journey through Mictlán, the underworld of the Aztec people that can only be reached after surmounting several challenging obstacles. I've also included painting that reflect my love of Michigan summers and the horses I grew up with.
My paintings are mixed-media compositions that include fabrics from Japan and India, sewn paper fragments, material notions such as crystals, pearls, trims, and metallic gold and copper foil. In addition to acrylic and oil paint I use different colors of spray paint to help get the paintings underway by randomly applying colors to a blank canvas.
I don’t make preliminary sketches for my paintings so I never know how they’re going to develop. That’s where all the discovery and joy happen, and why I love being an artist.