"Oops!" series

oops \ üps \ interjection : used to express mild dismay, chagrin, surprise, as at one's own mistake, a clumsy act, or social blunder.

I am fascinated with the Oops! house paints at Home Depot -- paints that were mixed incorrectly, rejected by the customer, or simply left behind.  Everyday the Oops! shelves are full – a whole new palette of colors and finishes to choose from.  Sometimes the selection is insipid, and other times it is wildly extravagant with colors like hot pink, black, and metallic silver.  I embrace the challenge of working with colors that have not met with approval, and paints that would otherwise go to waste.

Acrylic latex paint is a fabulously sticky and gooey medium.  It flows like thick rivers of molten color and forms intriguing patterns as I manipulate the canvas.

I prepare the canvas with layers of texture before I apply the paint.  The paint takes several weeks to dry, after which I apply a wax medium to protect it.

With the “Oops!” paintings, I am reclaiming that which has been rejected.  I take the mistakes, the blunders, and through alchemy, transform them into gold.

"Another World" series

Although I live in an urban environment, I hike in the hills everyday. Observing nature firsthand and the changes that accompany the seasons informs my painting. In this series of imaginary landscapes, I continue to use a technique in which the paint is lifted off the canvas. Although the landscapes are recognizable and emote a sense of familiarity, they can also be perceived as alien. Painted in subdued earth tones, the paintings evoke a feeling of quiet and calm.

"Decomposition" series

As we pass through life, we each leave our mark on the world. Other species also leave marks, and I work with imprints left by members of the plant kingdom.

In the "Decomposition" paintings I utilize all natural materials -- Earth pigments, plant dyes, and organic stains on cotton canvas.

I work with nature to create the imagery in these paintings. I place plant materials on the canvas and allow them to decay and mold. The patterns that are generated are subtly beautiful, and look like ancient relics or shrouds. When washed, the canvas sometimes develops holes, or partially disintegrates, and I work these into my plan. I use the stained pieces as design elements, layering them on painted and dyed canvas. I then finish the piece with stitching to provide texture and linear detail.

These paintings speak about the beauty in the ordinary -- beauty in things that might otherwise be considered useless. I transform that which is normally seen as distasteful into objects of wonder, compelling the viewer to look more closely at something that would normally be discarded.

"All Things Large and Small" series

I thrive on serendipity and the unexpected -- paint that bleeds in a curious way, an accidental spill here, a dropped wet canvas there. It is the unforeseen events that delight my senses and define my work. My paintings are a combination of careful planning and techniques derived from spontaneous effects -- a blend of intellect and intuition.

My work reflects a fascination with nature and life. I am inspired by the colors and designs I see all around me, and I use the chance element of wet painted canvas pressed onto another piece of wet painted canvas to create organic textures.

The patterns created by this seemingly chance technique are more than mere accident. The outcome is affected by factors under my control such as the colors I choose to press onto each other, the colors of the underpainting, the direction of the brushstrokes, the viscosity of the paint, how thickly the paint is applied, the drying time before pressing, and the amount of pressure applied to selected areas when pressing. The effect looks random, but I actually have a lot of control.

I finish each piece with layers of overpainting. I enjoy experimentation and defying rules. If you're not supposed to do it, I'll try it. Overpainting techniques that have developed from my experiments include hosing down the canvas before the paint is completely dry and dropping drips of paint from a yorker bottle.

I use color, pattern and gesture to express a mood, a feeling, a sensation or an observation.

"Weaving Heart and Mind" series

I think of these paintings as a weaving together of body and soul, bringing the spiritual into the physical. They are a combination of careful planning and spontaneous effects - a blend of intellect and intuition.

The "Weaving Heart and Mind" paintings are a study of natural processes and the ephemeral nature of life. I work on two pieces of unstretched canvas at once, cut the two into strips after they have been painted, and weave them together to form a harmonious whole.

The woven paintings look somewhat fractured - like the way we would see an image through a kaleidoscope. When viewed from a distance, the pieces of the painting form an animated and integrated composition. Up close each section presents a cohesive and self-contained image.