Saint Painting

I'm originally from New York, but Chicago has been home for 20 years. I work primarily in oils, and have exhibited internationally, with work in many private and corporate collections. My current paintings explore the dichotomy between chaos and control in the physical process of painting. I apply paint very thickly and somewhat abstractly, mostly with a palette knife. When the surface is covered but still wet, I attack the work, throwing myself into it (using brushes or my fingers) with abandon, in a manner that feels out-of-control. In becoming willing to destroy that which I have just created, I allow for something entirely new to emerge. The challenge then is to apply enough restraint to pull the painting back together. This dual process may occur multiple times during the creation of a piece, removing the painting even further from reality. Rather than conveying a specific narrative, my aim is to capture an energy, a feeling... a moment. Thematically, my work is about the strength inherent in vulnerability, suggesting that directness and an availability to be emotionally present (as opposed to being cynical and guarded) is a source of internal power.