Tuesday, July 22, 2014

My Two Sides


Most people love Halloween.  It's an opportunity to get into costume and become something else; a superhero, a sexy maid, or maybe a zombie.  For a few brief hours we hide behind the masks and become something we normally are not.

Being an artist affords me the same opportunity.  I get to try new things and take that essential step outside my comfort zone.  

Some days I just want to sling paint.  On other days it's all about the detail in light passing through a wine glass or vase.

Below are a few examples of my two sides.


"Skatepark"
9" x 12", Acrylic 

When I painted "Skatepark" I wanted to experiment with an image that would appear both realistic and abstract at the same time.  I liked the play of light and shadows. 



"Grandmother's Silver"
30" X 36", Acrylic

"Grandmother's Silver" on the other hand, was all about realism and I took days meticulously painting the details in the tarnished silver.




"Pandemonium"
Triptych
24" x 36", Acrylic

My triptych, "Pandemonium" brought out my inner graffiti artist.  Creating it was very rewarding and great fun.



"Strawberries"
8" x 10", Acrylic

In a return to realism, painting "Strawberries" was equally enjoyable.



Every artist seeks guidance from those more experienced and the one thing I hear over and over is 'find your style', or 'develop a recognizable style'.

Perhaps one day I'll heed their well intentioned advice, but right now I'm having too much fun.  I prefer to seek counsel from the writer, Doug Adams who proudly proclaimed:

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be." 

Visit my gallery and celebrate the dichotomy that is my Art.



Thursday, July 10, 2014

My Arizona

"My Arizona"
Why I Love the Wild, Wild West

"I shut my eyes in order to see."
- Paul Gauguin


It's time for a trip down memory lane.



  I began my painting career by painting that which I love best, which is always a good place for an artist to begin.  We moved to Arizona nearly 25 years ago and I was immediately taken with the desert.


Where some see only rocks and dirt I see incredible beauty.  I love the sculptural shapes of the cacti and the way light plays on their forms.  I love the mystery of the desert by moonlight.




I love the plants that thrive in unbearable conditions...





...like extreme temperatures and little water.  Their adaptations are an inspiration to my spirit to 'find a way' even in the most challenging of times.


I love the self-defenses of desert dwellers like thorns and needles, still their beauty screams 
'I dare you not to love me.'






I respect and admire the Mexican, Spanish and Native American cultures that came before me and give my state a look, a feel, a sound and a taste like no other.




I love the craftsmanship of Native American artists and their  respect for the land and animals.



But what I love most about Arizona is how its beauty and its people awoke the artist in me 
and inspired me to paint.  

A passion as strong as mine cannot be contained purely in the heart.  

Love leaving the soul is art.  

If you'd like to see more of my work, including more southwestern images, please visit my gallery at