How I Paint

My painting style emerged early in my education at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. I like to mix subject matter I find in Nature with subtle geometric abstract shapes, juxtaposing “natural organic lines” of animals, landscapes, and people with the “sharp rigid lines” of rectangles and mathematical man-made edges.

My favorite medium is watercolor, which has been, for the most part, small works for me.  I enjoy the “loose sketchy” style. I also paint large canvases with acrylics layering many thin washes which is reminiscent of the watercolor application that comes naturally to me.

My signature style includes a mix of drawing and painting together leaving my art process showing in the final piece. I usually work on 100% cotton rag board, first drawing with charcoal and then adding layers of charcoal pastel and watercolor and sometimes acrylic gesso and paints.

The process of making art for me is like a channel of discovery. The result is often not exactly what I had intentioned when beginning a piece. My paintings seem to take on a life of their own and that keeps me curious and interested in the process. I intentionally leave some parts “unfinished” and undefined with purpose. One of my goals is to leave something for the viewer’s imagination, allowing the viewer to be curious and in a way, actively participating in the piece even after I have declared it “finished.”

I know a painting is “done” when I can finally “see” and “hear” and “feel” it “sing to me.”