STATEMENT OF WORK

When I paint I like to separate feelings (inclinations/impulses) from judgment (right/wrong). I've found that drawing conclusions between the two restricts the potential for a mistake to lead to a discovery. Making a painting involves periods of clarity and confusion. Sometimes I'm riding an uninterrupted wave - seamlessly present happenings are happening. When acceptance (as an active verb) dictates the moves, and the timing of all things feel cosmically aligned. Other times the painting process is tense and rocky, and insecurity and fear attempt to dominate and infiltrate all areas of my brain. I try to maintain openness to/for it all, avoiding attachment or expectation.

I enjoy painting on a variety of things - found/discarded objects, more traditionally prepared surfaces, stone, wood. I work primarily with oil paint, and sometimes random found/craft/hardware store/trash in my pocket, construction site, dollar store objects. I like to throw a lot of things on my studio floor in anticipation of that one moment when I’ll look over my shoulder and spot the pair of boxers I chucked last week—now suddenly answering the needs of the painting. 

Painting has taught me patience and courage. Painting has taught me that I don't need to compromise - that it can be this way and that way, sitting together. “And” instead of “but”.