Artist's Statement
Sensual and intriguing paintings and decorative patterns by San Francisco area artist.
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| My art begins with my love of the physical world, especially the human figure, plants, and everyday objects. It celebrates the sensual aspects of both subject and media. And it has a frankly decorative intent, using bold color, line, texture, and pattern to animate strong compositions.
Three kinds of visual subjects have interested me most: the wonderfully plastic and expressive human figure, the palpable forms of household objects transformed into still life, and the dynamic interplay of patterns. Although always mindful of the abstract underpinnings of art, I love painting still lifes because real objects provide a foil for unexpected twists of dimension, design, and allusion. |
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| My figurative painting and drawing always begins with real objects and live models. I try to express not something about myself, but something I see in my subject. My inspiration comes from masters of sensuality like Gauguin, Klimt, Matisse, Degas, and Van Gogh, as well as decorative arts like quiltmaking and stained glass. (See more about my influences, philosophy, and techniques.)
In addition to my two-dimensional art work, I also sculpt in stone, creating graceful figure abstractions, and pursue photography that emphasizes abstraction, pattern, and design. |
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| Whether attracted by color, form, movement, or expression, I like to use art media that are swift and sensual, and work quickly to capture the subject. This spontaneous drawing may complete the artwork, or I may work the subject into a complex visual composition, such as a decorative figure collage, often playful, energized with collage and decorative patterns.
Objects are temporary configurations of energy and matter into recognizable forms. Both "solid" form, and "empty" space are full of energy. I like to represent both form and energy -- a moment of visual balance between figure and ground, stability and motion, excitement and composure. The result, I hope, is spiritual harmony as well as visual pleasure. |
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| Although I have lived for decades in the San Francisco Bay area, my art reflects my travels of the past three decades in both subject and form. With backpack and camera, I have explored Alaska, Africa, East Asia, and Mexico, and for a time I lived in rural Japan, studying calligraphy and textiles. Japanese brushwork, textiles, and ukiyo-e prints, brilliant Mexican color, Pacific Northwest Indian design, African abstraction, Hindu voluptuousness, and patterns from around the world have all left imprints on my work. And from my love of the tropics spring images of beaches, swimmers, shells, tropical fish, and luxuriant plants.
Observation of art in other cultures has also led me to respect the "small" but universal job of art, that is, simply to enrich daily life through pleasure. |
Calypso |
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| Study of Japanese textiles, and working with multiple exposures in my photography, led me to explore overlaying and mixing patterns. This led to expand the use of collage from my figurative art to non-objective works based on pattern, symmetry, and depth, or movement through the picture plane. The challenge is the sensual integration of diverse elements.
This decorative yet philosophical non-objective art aims to find order and harmony amidst complexity, to reveal the "divine irregularity" of the universe. Deep viewing of these works becomes a spatial and spiritual meditation. |
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| Unlike many artists trained in the latter half of the 20th century, I believe that technical skills such as draftsmanship are important, and have worked hard to expand my abilities. In addition to decades of figure drawing, I studied portrait drawing for many years, and I studied calligraphy in Japan to add a new and different facet to my work. I have always worked seriously--and simultaneously--with many media, subjects, and styles. My creative process is not specialized and linear, aimed at producing a parade of look-alike work, but is more like a tentacled spiral, inhaling and exhaling multiple inputs from many directions. |
El Padre
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| An artist's life is one of conscious exploration and integration. The "work" of art is to express in physical form the variety and growth of an ever-expanding individual and/or collective human consciousness. For the artist, the evolution of style reflects the evolution of the psyche; it is a dynamic process that lasts a lifetime. Rather than searching for or being confined to a single "style," I believe that an artist's work should be as multifaceted as her personality and spirit. My multiplicity of interests and experimentalism disconcerts many art marketers and gallery owners, but is a delight for buyers and those who know my work, who see a consistency of worldview and personality within the visual variety. |
The Faded Rose
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| Much contemporary art reflects alienation and distress, but I do not enjoy ugliness regardless of its philosophical garb. Art need not mirror and multiply the unpleasantnesses of life, but can instead enrich life by providing pleasure, harmony, and insight. The creative contribution of my art is not to criticize, but to synthesize; not to whine, but to heal; not to shock, but to provide enduring joy in everyday life at home or at work. Amidst the ubiquitous disintegration of the modern world, I hope my art will provide a refuge of wholeness and balance, an intriguing and nourishing "feast for the eyes." Enjoy! |
Autumn Breeze |
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