Born in Seattle, Washington and raised in Norwalk, Ohio, I discovered my passion for the arts so early that I can’t remember a time when I seriously considered doing anything else. I had briefly wanted to be a writer—a poet. I found my fit in Eastern philosophy when I was quite young and thought that path might be mine; but once I discovered painting, I realized that the deep, complex language of color carried a primal power that spoke directly to the soul. It gave shape to raw emotion. Color communicates in a way words simply cannot. Painting became meditation in motion—a continual exploration of the subconscious and of choiceless awareness. The semantic satiation that can happen during devotional chanting has been a constant influence through the years..
Classically trained, I spent the later years of my education at Bowling Green State University, where I had the privilege of studying with the late abstract painter Bob Mazur and photorealist painter Dennis Wojtkiewicz. Stylistically they were perfect opposites. Both were masters of their craft. Dennis’ work demonstrates how a true command of color theory becomes mastery of light itself, while Bob’s emotionally charged canvases—alive with color and movement—offered the perfect counterpoint. They guided and encouraged my experimental and curious nature and were highly supportive as I sought out my own independent approach.
I transferred into the program making Rothko-inspired color fields with black sumi-e inspired line work, influenced both by the deeply spiritual nature of Rothko’s work and my own Japanese studies at Ohio State University. I left creating large-scale neo-Dadaist inspired assemblages thematically rooted in feminism and the female experience.
Like all artists, I am a collector—of images, experiences, and the energetic imprint of the world around me, which I have had the great fortune to experience & travel. I believe in the subconscious as a vast storehouse—the ālaya-vijñāna. My goal is to filter these impressions and translate their energy into the work. A piece or series is born less from a fully formed idea and more from an inner necessity to work. I paint primarily in the abstract and with oil paint, using a physical, process-driven approach. At times the work flows like a rich and effortless conversation; at others it becomes a push-pull, a chaotic argument. Either way, it is an ongoing experiment with the medium and with communication through color and texture, an approach of contemplative action which closely aligns to that of Twombly. This process, along with the great vastness of the Nevada desert; my current topophilia, influence the size of the pieces.
Painting has been used as a means of expression for over 40,000 years. The only true “newness” it can offer is the unique perspective and personal history that both artist and viewer bring to it. All creative acts rely on a the symbiotic relationship between artist and audience to decipher their inner qualifications. My role is this relationship is to make and the true life begins after; for this reason titles to my work are often only mere hints of meaning or simply numbers, as not to interfere with the purity of the viewer’s experience. I may be voicing an opinion thru the work, but I’m not here to lecture. My role is to create and then step back, I assume the viewer is both curious and smart and will take the opportunity to embark on their own journey, allowing the work to begin a new life once it leaves my hands.
Most recently I have exhibited publicly at Conrad West Gallery in Las Vegas, my primary focus is direct sales out of my studio.