It's all about the image and doing what ever it takes to get that image from my head to the panel. I'll use whatever media or mediums, that I need to bring the image to life. I've transitioned over the years from acrylics to oils to encaustic to combinations of what ever is needed. I find that I look at everything with an eye towards art. Everything is fair game. I'm driven by my images.I’m also fascinated with the process of art, not just the end result. I believe the creative process is inherent in human beings, a need that has found outlet from the cave paintings of the Neolithic to the contemporary art scene involving computer generated images. From 2D to sculpture to digital, we humans just have to create.
I grew up in a very unusual household. My family was a polygamous household. My family traveled the west coast craft circuit. My parents were metal sculptors, and jewelers. At 26, I enrolled in my local community college. The head of the art department, Ed Harvey, was a major influence on me. He opened my eyes and my senses to color; the theory of, the practice of, and the effects of color in life as well as art.After school, I took a very long hiatus from serious pursuit of an art career to raise my children.Once my children were grown up, I found myself free to actively pursue my art seriously. I believe that the time I took off has made me a richer person, and a much better artist.In August of 2003, I suffered a spinal cord injury that nearly took my life, as well as the use of my hands and legs, away from me. This forced a change in style that I can't say was a bad thing. Also, I gained an appreciation of life and this appreciation has significantly added to my creative energies. I value my creative ability and all of the blessings of family and friends infinitely more now. I also appreciate the fragility of life and the wonderful resilient machine that is my body more than I ever did. The ever present pain has added to this appreciation. I believe that it shows in my art.