The subjects in my paintings are taken from the urban landscape of cities across the United States. They capture cross sections of deteriorating industrial structures and represent the strength and durability of some of the things man has built. They capture cross viewer can feel the weight of steel and see the effects of weather in the rusted pipes and textured decaying wood.
I create my compelling and provocative compositions through my camera lens. By scanning the landscape this way I discover many patterns, shapes, and angles. Where the angles converge at a point, an abstract composition is formed. Sometimes I zoom in on an object and realize it isn’t what I thought. A small white rectangle becomes an area of sky reflecting on a door. A pale green blob becomes an area series of pips covered in rust.
I try to choose ambitious subjects for my paintings; ones that are unique and evoke nostalgia, without being too sentimental. The outcome is a series of provocative shapes that come together to create a composition that is out of the ordinary, often not revealing the entire subject.
I am meticulous with my perspective of my architectural subjects and spend many hours perfecting the drawings. i prefer to work in watercolor, an unexpected medium for such a bold and gruff subject matter. I try to capture the mood by using strong colors in many layers, as well as different textures and fine details that entice the viewers to come closer, inviting them to imagine what lies hidden beyond the frame.
I love to look at how people lived long ago. Seeing the objects they used, and how they have evolved into the current time, inspires me to paint those objects.
It is so important that young people learn about the past. I try to teach my young grandchildren as much as I can.
