My process starts by gathering
images, lots of them, from the internet or magazines. I look through the
collection and select a smaller group that I find visually intriguing and
organize them, usually by color scheme. Sometimes a single image stands out to
me --a figure, an expression, a landscape-- and that image becomes the base of
my project. With this image, or series of images, as my inspiration, I begin to
create without restraint. I let intuition take over. I actively avoid my formal internal dialogue
at this point. Sometimes that manifests itself in blind line drawings, smudging
charcoal with reckless abandon, or replacing my paintbrushes with fingers, using
whatever is at my disposal.
After creating a surplus of
sketches or paintings, I lay them all out and try to assemble them into a final
piece. I switch from intuitive process to formal analysis. I continue to edit
until I reach a final product I am aesthetically satisfied with.
Spontaneity is core to my aesthetic
values. Unrestrained energy and vitality are evident in my art--from a stray
mark to a bold sweep of color. I also take moments to step back and analyze
formally. I balance moments of Goya-like intensity and expression with
Rembrant-like critique. The ideal aesthetic value of my work is what catches
people’s eyes, but my unique and spontaneous mark-making is what inspires them
to look closer. I find a balance between abstraction and representation,
between expression and formal editing.
