PERSONAL STATEMENT

My inspiration comes from botanical subjects, landscapes and spiritual cultures. I work primarily in watercolor and gouache but also in other media including acrylic, oils, pastel and ink. The substrate may be paper, canvas or gessoed art board. When I start a new painting it may require research, photography and a period of meditation.  For the detailed botanical paintings rough pencil sketches follow then a precise pencil outline drawing with the design concept and color roughs worked out on the computer. Then I will do a color rough using the correct choice of media. When working in sumi-e or Asian brush technique the work is more spontaneous where the final art is a yoga exercise as the brush and paint  flow with my breath and motion. French and Chinese Kolinsky red sable brushes are my favorite for a multitude of painting techniques. The process of painting is like watching a plant grow and blossom over time. I pay attention to the small details and always keep my eye on the center of my subject. In addition to representational art I express my inner vision with abstract images or Asian painting techniques. The reason why I paint is similar to the bee or butterfly attracted to a flower. It is important to me that many people enjoy my art in some form of reproduction as well as the original painting. Each season I interpret nature as a guide to renewal.