My current paintings are obviously rooted in realism, both observational and invented. They are also about process, materiality, and an emotional connection that is as visceral as it is visual. Behind an accurate use of color and value, there is an intuitive, gestural, and inventive mark making that comes from my many years as an abstract painter.
Realism, for me, is a gateway, a familiar starting point that invites viewers, regardless of their background, to step into an artwork. In my practice, it is not just about depicting the world as it is, but exploring the myriad ways in which we perceive and interpret it. I never really know where a painting will lead, and I like that.
My paintings are made either directly from life, as plein air pieces, or invented from what I refer to as digital maquettes. On the computer I stitch together photographs, found images, my own drawings, and other paintings into one coherent image, or maquette. When making the jump to paint, it is never simply a matter of copying the maquette, but altering everything yet again through my own eyes, very often re-inventing colors or compositions.