FASTER as the CROW FLIES Painting

ABOUT ME As a kid I was a rolling stone; my family was always on the move. I could never put down roots and never knew I wanted to. As an adult, I found I could choose to stay or go; first making the western U.S., then specifically Albuquerque my home. My work reflects this choice, and the things I see and know well that are all around me. In the early 80’s I exhibited my work in solo and group shows at the University of Utah and Springville Art Museums, Salt Lake Art Center and the Ogden Union Station Gallery. During this time to make my way, I fabricated large scale metal sculpture and signage at Wasatch Bronzeworks and designed office and retail interiors. Coming to Albuquerque in the late 80’s, for two-plus decades my focus shifted to building construction. In 2009 a professional change allowed me to resume art making. Since then, I’ve exhibited at the Albuquerque International Sunport, the Harwood Art Center and Casa Cultura in Albuquerque. I’ve participated in group shows and fairs in New Mexico, California, Colorado, Florida, New York and Texas. I reside in Albuquerque’s North Valley. ABOUT MY PROCESS My paintings are more often than not on re-purposed canvases or Gator Foam panels. I paint over former images leaving what came before to show through/live on. Thus, daubs and licks of paint become the ground for new images. I especially like the way the ghosts of former images provide glint and contrast in gold spray painted areas in the new work. Texture for me is a topography of the past. I combine images in my work, a river scene from one of my cell phone photographs with trees from another and a sky-scape from a third. Where actually the skies were turquoise or gray, I may paint them lavender and tangerine. With rare exception, my work is un-peopled, their imprint is there but they for the moment are absent. ABOUT MY IMAGERY On foot, close to my home, and within a one mile radius from it, is the river, a sprawling neighborhood with houses and yards, and a park. On a walk, I notice a neighbor’s positively animate Prickly Pears; where Stem-Cladodes are engaged in quiet conversation, while others lounge about in shadow. At the park a fiery sunrise back lights playground equipment that come to life, anticipating the children that will soon engage it. Along the river I see a rainbow whose colors at one end pierce dark clouds. The other end bends towards me in a broad arc, reflected in the golden glint of the water.