IMAGES | STATEMENT | RESUME

An inspired architect is constantly at work within me when I paint resulting in an overwhelming urge to construct, plan and juxtapose various elements and forms together to create a "space" which is pleasing, beautiful and peaceful. Inherent in each piece is an expansive rhythm of inspired vision which must be imprinted upon the process of creation. There exists a great sense of divine order I hope will resonate throughout the final image.

The early phases of a painting are very thought intensive. Much detailed planning is involved, based on an initial vision of elements and the manner in which they will work together harmoniously in the final stages of the piece. Often during the formation of a painting, my mind playfully wanders from the intense and scripted detailed methodology and enters a state of inspired and spontaneous gestural play. It becomes a mind break and the free and open creative urges find their way onto the surface in the form of fine marks, scratches with various found objects and handmade tools as well as broken pieces of vine charcoal. Fine delicate washes of earthlike colors are introduced that appear to stain the surface. One might be reminded of old wood or a building where peeling paint and worn surfaces excite the imagination. I allow highly diluted pigments to freely find their way down the panel and watch intently as the fluid pigments catch on tiny imperfections in the surface to form new streams which make their way to the bottom of the piece leaving a fine trail of color and spontaneous line and form in their wake. At this stage of work I move to another phase of the painting where I begin to add more structural detail and it is here that the true construction process of the piece begins. A pylon, large upright slab or a columnar form may appear and begin to give the painting a sense of space and depth. These forms are generally dark and heavy and act as an anchor, giving the piece a grounded feeling. These forms are often inspired by constructional elements I see in the real world, such as a rusted piece of factory equipment discarded along a highway or something as unique as the shapes of light and shadow formed by manmade objects. I'm intrigued by the flow of the lines of objects and the knowledge they were crafted by man and their solid historical connection to the earth from which they were created.

As the painting progresses I introduce large and simple fields of rich color to contrast the heavy forms. These bands of color are rich in texture and highly saturated with earthen toned pigments and have a warm depth and luminosity. The stage is now set for the interaction of the various forms. There is a softness exuding from these fields of color creating a beautiful sense of harmony and flavor of the natural earth, evoking for me the stark New Mexican desert locale where I was born and raised. With this stage of the painting the natural colorist in me comes alive and blossoms. I strive to achieve a particular richness and depth in the application of the multitude of transparent tinted glazes which comprise the field of the piece. Much attention and thought is given to fine detail at this stage and intuitive color theory plays an important role as the painting nears completion.

At different intervals in the painting process, I allow myself to return to a playful space to introduce more fine gestural detail and spontaneous movement. Many times one will find very fine and almost obscured vestiges of botanical shapes buried deep within the surface. These forms are symbolic of my strong connection and love of the natural world.

The painting is now nearly complete, full of numerous layers of heavy forms, sensuous markings and delicate color washes which leave the eye and mind with much to absorb and contemplate. If a viewer simply stands before one of my pieces at a distance without moving closer and allowing themselves entry into the inner world within the surface, they will miss a detailed and sometimes veiled world of dimensional form and mystery.

Currently I insist on finishing my paintings with a very high gloss which preserves the seductive wet lustrous look reminiscent of desert rocks after a fresh rainstorm. Painted surfaces appear more crisp and tactile in this finished state. This final finish work of the painting is very labor intensive and in effect permanently bonds all of the elements of the painting together into a timeless and alluring existence.

For me, painting in the abstract is simply the expression of another, perhaps less familiar language that resides deep within. These intangible thoughts and inspirations are all about color, form and harmony that exist within our lives and deep inside our minds. My paintings are a spiritual endeavor for me; a journey into an unknown world. With each series of new paintings, I must reach inside myself and plumb an unseen wellspring of inspiration and transform the impulse of inspiration into the manifestÉ....creation. In the finished painting there is an obvious quietness one can hopefully sense and become lost within, if even for a moment. My work is about a peaceful place, perhaps a familiar spot we forget exists inside us at all times -- an oasis of quietude where we might retreat .

Other means of inspiration for my work are extracted from daily writings and contemplation of ideas and personal philosophies. This inspiration bursts forth from intense moments of awareness of life's great secrets, powers and beauty and the boundless potential it holds for all of us. My recent painting "Imparting Stillness I" appeared to me after weeks of contemplating the idea of stillness of mind and what a powerful force this can be in our lives. The seductive deep blue field present in this painting was born out of this state of consciousness symbolizing stillness and peace. This kind of creative process not only inspires my work, but also awakens my mind to the many unexplored avenues that exist for everyone. It instills a great sense of order within thought which I find most intriguing. This awakening of consciousness is what drives me to continue painting and sets forth new visions and inspirations for future work.

As my work matures it seems to naturally seek new directions, processing fresh inspiration into work of stronger power and beauty. I have become deeply aware of my awareness expanding inward, searching to reveal the intrinsic power and beauty of the numerous subconscious visual symbols and forms of deep-seated inspirations. I continue to explore the vast potential inherent within my work to stir and evoke a deeper sense of self awareness and my ongoing desire to bring forth the lavish and timeless nature of being beyond the mindÕs comprehension. As my work evolves and matures, it is my goal and intent to encourage my mind to open to THE sourceÉthat infinite wealth of beauty that underlies the mindÕs ability to conceive of the nature of all with our limited wisdom and awareness. Herein lies my challenge when I create and conceive the next painting, to find the absolute creative presence at the core of all things. It is also the challenge in how I choose to live, not necessarily to search and redefine something that has always been present, but to scrape away the opaque hazy film layered in time in the mind to reveal what exists in truth and allow its full expression. Simply put, to step out of my mind Ð to become mindful of the state of being where the real magical presence may surface and find expression.

As I learn to turn my consciousness away from a world filled with confusion, anger, fear, violence and the hideous creations of the collective mind and will of our society, I see the always present and mind blowing beauty that awaits expression. It often feels as if very little is sacred. Natural wonders of our world have even been turned into amusement parks filled with tee shirts and trinkets that end up in the trash and forgotten. One can hardly see beyond the food courts and distractions to the real essence buried beneath these lures. Many people fail to see, to allow their minds time for rest and awareness to experience the possibilities of images and ideas unfamiliar to their mindÕs training and perceptions. I believe in my heart that beneath all this lies a craving in each of us to reconnect with the true nature of all things, including our own being and the nature of the universe, to again realize the sacred nature of life and its true beauty. This belief and conception is where I draw my energy in hopes of creating work of value to a collective search for more meaning and purpose in our lives and things we choose to create. We have all stood in awed silence, moved profoundly by a photograph or painting of great beauty that sang out to our personal muses and connected deeply to something deep within our hearts and minds. It is my fervent hope that glimpses into the buried worlds and miniature universes found in each new painting I create somehow stirs something deeper within the viewerÕs perceptions that may lead to a greater awareness of their true nature and ultimately a greater sense of being.