As an artist I am deeply inspired by nature. In my paintings
and monotypes, this translates into a complex mix of emotions and color,
depicting what I perceive of my natural surroundings. In them I attempt to
capture the varied experiences of my life as a landscape designer and naturalist. I
use organic permutations of line, color, and brushstroke to represent indigenous
forms of plant life and their landscape settings, and portray their intimate
relationship with our planet. When applying layers of opaque under-paintings,
mixed with transparent glazes, I am reminded of the sensation of holding
fresh earth, moist and pregnant with potential growth. As I manipulate
inks and color on the plate, using “pour-and-shift” printmaking
techniques, and paint media to represent landscapes, I feel a sense of control
over the obstinate atmospheric elements of the weather systems I create.
As in the creation of the landscapes, my depiction of architectural
elements reveals my need to express the psychological drama of life, as explored
through manmade structures, in which layers of personal history lie
within the walls. Painting architectural elements at precise angles,
with opaque and transparent brushstrokes, creates a personal serenity in
my work. Conversely, at times it is transformed into a geometric embodiment
of my emotional states, repressed memories, and imagined moments, including
at times, the familiar monotony and quiescence of my life.
I view my art as a personal investigation into nested interconnecting
systems within systems. The landscapes and interior architectures become
metaphors for drama, pathos, and moods. It is the investigation into
the importance of these familiar subjects that allows me to materialize my
perceptions of consciousness. The process of making these subjects transform
from an internalized feeling into a physical image is very satisfying, as
my work becomes the witness to a visual truth within the artistic discussion
of my life.
