Artist Statement
My roots as an artist go back to the Pattern & Decoration movement, which emerged in the 1970s at the University of California at San Diego. My particular fascination with pattern has focused solely on the variety and intricacy of the natural world, the subtle colorations in the land and the intricate patterns of plant life. Although nature has always held me in its sway, I have moved from seeking to capture its essence to a place where I aim to absorb the forms I see and create a new song.
I work with natural forms that I collect and press. My aim is to render the exact lines of veins, insect holes and mildew smudges. Drawing, whether with pencil or razor, has become the main player. The repetition of individual leaf or other lifeforms builds the play of pattern on pattern.
Working on panel with acrylic wash and graphite renderings has become my method and medium of choice. The smooth receptive surface allows me to manipulate and remove paint with a razor or through a fine sanding method. The limitation of color brings the pattern into a pronounced focus.
My underlying hope is always to produce a beauty that awakens.