ARTIST STATEMENT

In the past, I have created abstractions from plein air studies; more recently, I have turned to other sources of inspiration. Current work has been based on photographs from newspapers. First, the design of the photograph captures my attention and begins the structure of the piece. Then, I begin an abstract exploration of the content of the photograph as the emotional core of the painting.

These photographs have ranged from the political to the mundane, including a Palestinian burning an Israeli flag, a dinner party at a chic Manhattan restaurant, a new modern dance, a garden of cherry blossoms in Japan and the war in Iraq.

I also seek to enrich my source material by adding another dimension: sound. For each painting, I make specific choices about the music I play in the studio. The rhythms help direct my brush, creating a specific sense of movement in each piece. And I find myself dancing in my mind with artists I love. My paintings are how I thank them for their company.

The scale of my work is continuing to grow. Content changes depending on the images I encounter. But rhythm is the structure of my painting process.