When I moved into my new studio at the beginning of the 2007, it seemed like the perfect time to change everything about my work – including the imagery, media, and structure. The images on this web site are the result of those changes. The desire to change had been building for a couple of years -- I wanted to find a way to get more color into my work. I wanted to find a way of adding structure without relying on imagery. I was also seeking a new method of applying the paint that wasn't as focused on gesture. My search led me to the palette knife, a tool I had never used as a painting instrument before. It seemed to be a perfect fit because it allowed me to combine the stroke with the image – in fact, the stroke became the image and provided the structure for the painting at the same time. I had been seeking a way of holding fast to a more formalist approach to painting without eliminating the “juicy,” painterly aspects of handling the paint. Paint builds up along the edges of each stroke where the palette knife makes contact with the canvas. This ridge adds some dimension to the paintings. I also decided to switch from acrylic back to oil. This was partly a practical decision because there is no running water in my studio. I was never fully happy with the look or feel of acrylic paint, – in fact, I always lamented the loss of the oil’s rich beauty. The switch back has been a wonderful return to the sensual aspects of paint and color mixing. My way of working has always been very intuitive. I don’t make preliminary drawings or color studies. This is because I want to concentrate all of my effort on the process – I want the whole painting to emerge gradually, one stroke at a time. This keeps the painting alive and keeps me on my toes. It’s always a shock to see the finished painting – each has a unique tempo and resonance.
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