My work often consists of layers of paint and paper applied intuitively to the canvas and then sanded back to reveal images that reflect a place, an emotion, a memory, or a thread of common experience. A peek into the layers might evoke a story of a peaceful simpler time: Bird song in our back yards, picnics in parks, or even walks through imaginary cities or forests. With no agenda for what the piece will ultimately say, I pay attention to the feelings the painting awakens and follow the direction it leads me. At times the images of the birds or landscapes mirror my own feelings, thoughts and experiences: Nostalgia, surprise, joy, whimsy, disappointment, optimism. Sometimes I imbue the hybrid birds with human expressions to highlight our commonality and the beauty of nature. I often use satellite images to create fantasy landscapes where borders are non-existent and birds are a symbol of freedom. I also think about climate change, the loss of wilderness, and the fact that extinction now threatens even the common and abundant birds we used to find in our everyday environment. So, even as our wildlife habitats recede, I listen for the calls of the wild birds, and try to capture those peaceful moments and beautiful landscapes we still share with our fellow creatures.
I majored in Art in college. Junior year I attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Later in life I attended Architecture school. Although I sporadically pursued my interest in painting and drawing over the years, I have recently returned to making art full time and set up my studio in Telegraph Hill overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
