Artist’s Statement

I’m an improvisational painter but, as a Mainer, I cannot escape the serene beauty of the snowy fields, the blue-black waters and the rugged coast; the harsh realities of life here; the Down East sense of humor or the major issues facing humanity.

I don’t consciously address those things, they bubble up in the creative process. I’m stimulated by the way the paint goes down, whether thick impastos or thin glazes, the rich, etching-like textures, and the emergence of intriguing references. I especially embrace the influence of Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso and RISD’s Robert Hamilton. I hope my years of extensive study and experience reveal an obvious gravitas.

My finished work is sometimes nonrepresentational but more often, oddly narrative. I love that because I want to be as surprised and intrigued as anyone else by what I made.