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Artist's Statement My favorite subjects are those that blend nature and man made objects, landscapes and cityscapes. I paint exclusively in pastels because they permit an immediacy of feeling, produce bright colors, and bold lines. A painting is successful when the viewer can recognize the scene I have painted, but can also see beyond the reality of what is there and see the life force within the objects. As there are no straight lines in nature so also there are few straight lines in my paintings. I use distorted perspective, complementary colors, and subtle changes in composition and shape to communicate the vitality of an object. Buildings are like trees; in a painting they should bring movement to the scene. Mountains, lakes, and hills vibrate with an inner energy and that power is expressed in color and form. My favorite subjects are crowded neighborhoods where the structures push back, one upon the other, reaching out for room and yet fitting together as a whole. I am more likely to paint the backs of buildings than the fronts. Life is lived where the façade is stripped away and reality exposed. I paint scenes where angles, lines, and solid masses built by man are broken with foliage and greenery, showing the connection between man and nature. Art Training and Instruction I have had no formal art training but in the modern world of today, there are no longer any ‘self-taught' artists. I have acquired my skills from workshops, study, and practice. My formal schooling has taught me how to learn from books, and my job has allowed extensive travel and visits to museums all over the world. I enjoy the Impressionist Masters, but spend more time studying the early 20th century artists, maybe less popular, that painted workers, factories, and cities. I became an artist when I sold my first painting over 10 years ago. With my art, I want to force people see things with new eyes. By painting the ordinary in a different way, I hope to make others see the beauty in the man-made world around them. Click on the pictures below to enlarge Memberships
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