ARTIST STATEMENT
After over twenty years of painting in a realistic style – figuration, portraiture and landscapes – my primary focus is now on abstraction with a style based on Russian Constructivism. This short-lived movement (1917-1921) was linked to industry, architecture and the applied arts. Artists, at that time, desired to sweep away all that had gone before in the First World War.
I find the formal qualities of Constructivism fulfilling in that I have some control over the structure of the picture. Geometric shapes are a main focus while lines drawn through the picture plane render object and ground on an even keel. This appearance of commingling and connection is of interest to me because it brings to the fore inherent meaning in my work that - all things are connected.
I enjoy using the strong pure colors found in nature and find that often my hand reaches instinctively for warm earth tones. This is no surprise to me as Cezanne has always been a great inspiration.
My process is one of layering oil paint – with brush or knife –
wet over dry or at times wet into wet. The lovely qualities of oil paint lend much richness and luminosity to my work. Their slow drying time affords me much needed time to ponder my next artistic step.
Most importantly, my desire is to see and reveal in my work the true essence of physical appearance be it animate or inanimate.