The painting process is about the concept and the idea, the color and the form. It is also about the pure joyof process. On a sensory level it is about sight, smell, and feel. To say that it is both agony and ecstasy, playand work only starts to explain the compelling need to paint.

Current Paintings

Currently, I am painting most of the works on canvas in oil (encaustics are painted on panel) and have been getting away from geometry for design. Sometimes I will develope the image with "mixed media" including monoprinted papers, block printing, texture paste and/or drawing.

Process: I begin by priming the surface of the canvas with gesso. I then begin to build up the surface texture with modeling paste. It takes several layers to create the texture I want. I mostly use scrappers and palette knives for this step. During this time, I also plan the structure and content as well as the colors of the artwork.

The next layer is very loose and gestural. Paint is applied in overlapping expressive strokes.

The remainder of the painting is done with layers of paint. Most are quite translucent or sheer although opacity is used for structural areas.

Up to this point, the painting has been done flat or horizontally. As it nears completion, I stand it up and view it for content, balance and form as well as color. Water or turpentine is used to remove selective areas of paint to expose the color underneath or to encourage drips.

Oils require up to several weeks to dry thoroughly.

Final steps are varnishing, signing, applying hanging hardware and photography of each artwork.