I had an affinity for art from childhood when my father brought home rolls of paper for me to doodle on with crayon and pencil. There were many workbooks for beginning artists that I immersed myself in as I developed and grew to school age. I took as many art courses in public school as I could and supplemented them with classes at the local Art Association there in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At the end of my public-school years, I signed up at a Commercial Art Trade School for the next three years in nearby York, Pennsylvania. This was during the years of rebellion (‘68 through ‘71) and did that ever influence my art and my imagination. I fell in love with the Fine Arts as opposed to Commercial Art, which I ceased to pursue. My study of Surrealism, at this time, opened a whole new world for me as well. I did keep my hand in both painting and sculpture (in my free time) while I worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Data Processing for the next 27 years. After a short move during this period, I resumed lessons in Watercolors, and in Life Drawing, at the local Art Association in York, Pennsylvania. After my retirement in the year 2000, I left Pennsylvania for the long move to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here, I could finally find the inspiration to really pursue my love of my particular brand of oil painting. Immersion in avenues of Native American culture shaped many of my thoughts in addition to the influence of other nature-based religions such as Wicca and Druidry.
Artist Statement
I have been exposed to a variety of mediums during art school, gallery visits and various classes at local art associations. The mediums include watercolor, pastels, charcoal, printmaking, wood, clay, acrylics, and my favorite: oils. These classes and the gallery visits are what have inspired me to make art; and oils, I feel, give me the freedom to fully express a piece of myself in each of my creations. When, during my various gallery visits, I saw examples of Surrealism by artists such as Salvadore Dali and Paul Delveaux, I knew this was the approach I wanted to take, to express through the juxtaposition of my subject matter, a greater beauty, and often a vista of a brave, new world. I like to consider myself a deep thinker, and sometimes a slow thinker. The complexities of my choices many times require a level of deep thinking, and sometimes necessary alterations. Unlike acrylics or watercolors which dry too quickly, oils give me a chance to coordinate my hand and paintbrush with my thoughts and desires; to even go in and change something when I’ve had a better idea. This approach through oils, and glazing mediums, gives me everything I need to express myself fully as an artist in the fields of Surrealism and Magical Realism. To create new vistas using the existing beauty of this world, and sometimes, creatures of the imagination as well; that is my hope and my dream as an artist. I want to impart to you the viewer, the joy that filled my heart as I completed each piece. That, and to carry on the grand tradition of the artists who preceded me in the fields of Surrealism and Magical Realism. To walk the ground where they have trod, artists like Max Earnst, Frieda Kahlo, and Rene Magritte; then to bring to you a new vision of my own, inspired by those who came before.
