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Artist's Statement

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I have always been drawn to light. Growing up around lakes and water, nothing was more soothing to me than watching how light moved across water. I have many peaceful memories of laying on the dock, watching the sparkle of the late sun on the lake, paddling among surface reflections, gazing at lake bottoms through the shifting light on water between me and the underwater scenes. 

 

Those experiences have influenced my painting. Although my subject matter is people enjoying everyday activities, they are simply shapes used as an excuse to paint the atmosphere around them. I seek out places where the light is low, dawn, twilight, brightly lit nighttime streets, or a hazy summer day are times that you will find me out searching for subject matter. Those are times of day and atmospheric conditions when the light quality softens the shapes of the figures, turning them into silhouettes, featuring the luminosity around them.

 

 While the realm of pure abstraction intrigues me and the composition and elements in my work are carefully chosen to convey my intent,  I lean toward realism because I want people to be able to relate. I hope for the viewer to recall a joyful, lighthearted moment that they have experienced after seeing my paintings.

 

I work in a variety of media, although pastel and watercolor remain my favorites. Both provide easy opportunities for building color and allow those colors to shimmer and peek through from a previous layer, creating the glimmer and glow that I find important.

 

I find exploring the subtleties of light brings me endless possibilities of imagery. I have a need to record the world as I see it, filled with luminance, sparkle, and glow…and to share that with others.