China

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I believe that Art is a way to communicate what is in one’s heart and soul, and in so doing, come to a greater understanding of oneself and the world we live in. The act of creating a work of art begins with an inner need to express oneself, which takes the form of a vision. If acted upon, this vision can be transformed from a mental image into a visual form with intense concentration or meditation and technical ability. For this visual form to be a work of art it must be a complete statement having meaning both aesthetically and emotionally becoming an independent entity. My work does not come from a desire to duplicate what I see but a desire to communicate the sense of the joy and wonder that I get from life. It is my way of sharing with others my thoughts about both day-to-day life and more profound issues surrounding family relationships, stages of life, and philosophical ideas. I often use symbolism and/or surrealism to transform recognizable forms into archetypical images giving my work a mythical quality filled with layers of meaning, which both reiterate and challenge age old ideas. I find beauty and meaning in the sensitively that can be seen both in simple lines and forms. I use these to set up the basis for my drawings and sculpture, which are very design conscious. Just like a strong foundation is essential in building any home, a strong design is essential for a work of art. Once I am satisfied that the basic layout is both aesthetically and emotionally meaningful, then I can concentrate on the other aspects that I want my drawing to contain. For some drawings simple lines are enough to carry my intention while other works require layering of images and mysterious abstract passages to communicate their more complicated meaning. My favorite mediums remain simple; paper, graphite, ink, bronze, stone and wood because I don’t want the work to become about the material but prefer the images and forms to be the driving force. I tend to work back and forth between two and three dimensions to keep my work fresh by continually changing my perspective. I find the creation of artwork a mysterious and fascinating process, which is best when shared.

Three Bears

Lovers