Breathe Easy Painting

I am painter at heart, intrigued by the power of color, line, and space to tug and convey in infinitely compelling ways. From the outset, I have been interested in depicting authentic, spontaneous emotion and experience in abstract ways, finding beauty and satisfaction in that which is intensely genuine and ultimately imperfect. My work is exhibited and collected throughout the U.S., and most recently was included in the private collection of one of the directors of the J. Paul Getty Museum. I am fascinated by the inner workings of the mind, conscious and unconscious thought, impulse and defense. At present, I am in the throws of creating a body of work centered on Winnicott's notion of transitional objects, akin to security blankets and other beloved objects. I am fascinated by what we do, and what we say to ourselves and others, to nurture security, mitigate distress, and become separate, unique individuals, comfortable in our own skin. Hence, titles such as Look The Other Way, Obsessing Won't Help, Two Steps Forward One Step Back. My handling of my materials is intimate, engaging, and even wrenching. It's not exactly a coincidence that I work directly on the floor, from all four sides, literally manhandling my canvases as I fold, crease, scribble and paint, imbuing them with a veritable soul. Luminous oil paint, oil sticks, spray paint and graphite on rough, textured, hand stretched canvas, serve as fodder for my contemporary paintings. Despite allusions to formal geometry, misshapen line and form prevail, creating tension and interest. My hope is that my work evokes viewers' own personal narratives, and that the inevitable, highly personal range in what's seen and experienced, ultimately will add depth to the layers of meaning existent in my paintings...much like Rorschach inkblots, which I have begun more deliberately to reference in my paintings. In the end, I hope my work stirs, provokes, and evokes in highly personal, evolving ways, causing viewers to look, then look again, finding new meaning over time, and in the process remain alive and relevant. I was born in the United States and was raised in the artsy college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. My parents believed in the benefits of early unstructured play and artistic expression, and filled our shelves with an endless array of art supplies. For as long as I can remember, I was given the strong message to dream big and pursue whatever my vast imagination would allow.