ARTIST STATEMENT

These paintings are of interiors that are inventions on my part. They are pieced together from many sources. My own drawings, other paintings, photographs even direct observation. I assemble these sources within the structure of linear perspective (in truth I have always found a sense of pleasure in the feeling of depth on a two dimensional surface). Often I distort scale and shift perspective in order to manipulate the space. I use these devices in an attempt to subvert the space, to force it to do something other than what it logically should do.

Although these images tend to come together in their own unique way there are many artists that I look to for guidance. Pieter DeHooch is someone I often reference in my work. Edward Hopper is another for many of the same reasons. Mondrian is someone I look at in terms of how spaces are divided.  Also in my experience of Mondrian's work there are some very interesting spatial (depth) shifts that occur regarding his use of color. Lastly, Magritte for his ability to never represent what he appears to present.  Beyond these formal issues, I think that at its best, any artwork has at its core a question. For myself I know the impetus for creating always begins with a question (which inevitably leads to more questions and in turn deeper into the work). Some of the questions I might ask of you when you look at these pieces are, what lies beyond the doorway, or around the wall, is it possible to even get there? Could these spaces exist if so where and if not why? Are the spaces comfortable or uneasy (or both)? Could you exist in them, could anyone? These are some of the things I ask myself or attempt to ask viewers. Often I consider these questions to be parallel to larger questions, those of life and death of deception and truth. I don’t expect answers to these questions however through this process; I have come to realize that the questions hold far more significance than the answers.