Artist Statement

The principal theme that I have explored in my work as an oil painter is the still life.   My creative process begins with the initial inspiration from observing the object(s) and creating a setup.   Once I am happy with the composition,  the formal elements of color, picture plane and line take over as I plan and then delve into the painting.  From that point on, it is the painting that dictates what it needs to be completed.

 

The still life series was begun as a way to improve my visual perception of light and color.  I committed to painting only from life and only from what could be found in my kitchen that day or at the market.   This series has expanded my color vocabulary and increased my appreciation for the beauty found in the midst of my chaotic family life. I like to compare the process of observational painting to meditation.  True perception requires an objectivity that enables one to let go of the preconceived image of the object we have in our minds. 


"Instructions for living a life:  Pay Attention, Be Astonished, Tell about it." 
       Mary Oliver