The abstract expressionists and their surrealist cohorts, who pioneered moderan art in America in the mid-20th century, are my "Old Masters."  I spend a lot of quiet time in my studio studying their paintings and techniques.   Diebenkorn, de Kooning, Mitchell, Motherwell and Twombly are major influences. 

     I work in the abstract because of the freedom it gives me to "see" and interpret the physical and emotional world in unconstrained and exciting ways.  Abstraction frees my imagination and encourages creativity and innovation.

     I am an intuitive, action painter.  I strive for spontaneity, love to experiment, and rarely start with a preconceived outcome in mind.  I like being surprised as a composition evolves through the creative process.  I am particularly intrigued by the concepts of automatic drawing and writing that were central principles of the surrealist movement.

     Acrylics are my principal medium, but I like to add interest and complexity with charcoal, pencil, oil sticks and other mediums.  I love making marks, especially using line to give energy and life to my paintings.  I find black line particularly dramatic and emotive. 

     As I mature as an artist, I am increasingly working multiple paintings in series.  This unifies my work.  And it reinforces my aim to do more than provide a visual experience.  I want my art to give a sense of place and to evoke feelings and motions ... to tell a story.