My mother took advantage of the explosive diversity of San
Francisco, California during the exploration of my childhood. So, yes I blame
a lot the self i am today on my mom, and I thank her for it every time I think
of her.
My work with abstract imagery began while I studied for my
BFA from Oregon State University. I experience life altering situations at
the time that could only be dealt with through the cathartic medium of self
expression on canvas and paper, shapes and colors dictated from my clamoring
inner voice and my ever widening wondering at human nature: That there are
underlying patterns (archetypes) to all human thought and reaction despite
whatever culture anyone is born into.
My translation of this human condition onto canvas expounds
on bundles and bindings themes. My color use is meant to keep the eye returning
to the image, in order to begin an inner dialog for the viewer. I feel that
some of the patterns of the human archetype are expressed best through abstraction.
I am currently exploring the addition of imagery inspired
by indigenous peoples' unique connection to the physical and unseen world
we share. I've used motifs mostly taken from the Americas, Africa, Australia,
The Pacific Islands, from bronze age Europe, the ancient Mid-East and Asia
in which we can see foundational patterns of human thought across vast
time and distance. All are representations of the expectations for those
born to specific "stations" which dictated the direction of their
lives and about the few who served their bindings, becoming the heroes and
gods of legend.
Each piece of mixed media work began as watercolor. I work
back into many areas using acrylic paint pastels, and colored pencils often
using other wetting media to enhance color and depth as well as to achieve
an active surface.
