Glory in the Garden Painting

Artist Statement Momentary Contact - “A Call to the Heart” For most of my work, instead of holding a paintbrush, I challenged myself to use natural objects from the outdoors and discarded items from the home. The contrast of these dual sources brings competing energy to the process. I like the pleasant tension. Pressing my fingers into the deep smooth paint and onto the flat coarse canvas sparks a sensation of pure joy and energy and reveals these flowers as I enthusiastically create. I hope you can appreciate this experience and perhaps imagine how you might approach it if given the time and space. I have always loved flowers, everything about flowers. When I plant them, I wear no gloves. I want to feel the soil as I prepare the space that will ultimately nurture beautiful blooms. I want the touch and the scent of the soil on my hands. It connects me with the focus of my art. Have you ever felt that? If not with soil and flora, then perhaps with some other tactile creation. You of course have. Flowers have a general, basic design that repeats in thousands of forms. And yet, each one is its own miracle of intricate shape, texture and fragrance. A single flower can compel us to joy. And when one flower combines with some others – of the same species or not - in a single spot, the result can mesmerize an unsuspecting viewer. I seek that power when I paint. It is my hope that as you view this collection, you feel a sense of joy and wonder. Bio Born and raised in the Cincinnati Tri-state area, I relocated to the West Coast in 1998 and began my professional art career in 2017. After being introduced to commercial art through a vocational - technical program in high school, I knew at a young age art was my calling. For over 15 years I worked for small advertising agencies in Northern Kentucky and New Jersey. My mission is to create art that inspires and uplifts people in their sacred space. My hope is that my floral interpretations invites you to experience my love of flowers and transmits a sense of joy that you would experience in your home.