Artist's Statement

My work could be described as “realistic” or “representational” in that it depicts recognizable scenes, objects or people.  It starts with the “reality” of a photograph, sketch or memory.  However, for me, this reality becomes a point of departure.  My initial inspiration starts with a moment in time the catches my eye but, more important, captures my imagination. 

Often the subject matter I paint is close by – literally even out my back door.  Landscapes are well-represented on this website though they are often an excuse to paint the sky – a changeable element that often creates a mood.  As a New Englander, seasonal changes (particularly the Fall) are opportunities to show the same scene in totally different lights and emotions.  Figures and portraits present the challenge of capturing character in the momentary revelation of a gesture or expression.

With all, I strive for “accuracy” but not merely the accuracy of technically rendering form and light.  The accuracy I hope to represent is my own set of reactions to the image in question where reactions are a function of memory, emotion or mood – sometimes nostalgia (a memory of a reality that never existed). In particular the act of remembering adds an overlay of emotion which leads to technical decisions that impact light, contrast and emphasis. By rendering both the external object (or person) and my reaction to it, I hope to achieve a more transcendent accuracy that one might call the “truth” behind the image.

Yet even this truth is only a starting point.  My preference for the representational and recognizable is because it makes these images accessible to most viewers.  My work is also an invitation to the viewer to bring their own memories and emotions to the experience. The most gratifying exhibition experiences are when someone shares something the work evoked for them.  These paintings are created in part to function as catalysts that invest the subject matter with meaningful associations and hopefully some measure of significance.