Conflicted Painting

My first passion in visual expression came in the form of still photography. As a teenager, I was very curious with the camera. As a young adult, I enlisted in the United States Navy, and worked as a Photographer's Mate. My tenure in the Navy was a life changing experience. I transitioned very well to digital photography, and not long after that, I began focusing my attention on oil paint. I took a class at the local community college, and had a great experience with the painting instructor. She taught me how to think about art, how to talk about art, and how to allow myself to "let go" of the rules, and let the painting happen organically. My favorite painters are Joan Mitchell, Karel Appel, and so many more. Too many to name. I spent just a few years tinkering with digital art, and was able to get one of my digital art images accepted into a national juried exhibition in 2011. When I am painting, I am witnessing a battle between my conscious mind and my sub-conscious. The result so far - some non-objective works, that focus on action, color, shape, line, and texture. On the other side lies a painter that works conceptually.