I Graffito Painting

I am beguiled by the humble mark or line, it's use as expression whether in words or form alone. It has always been a presence in my work. I love the energy of a simple stroke, how it can draw your eye from one place to another creating the experience of movement and energy. I use automatic marks that imply letters or words, purposefully veiling any written meaning in an effort to show how we attempt to verbally communicate our thoughts and ideas but are more often miss-understood or understood inaccurately. I Graffito is about the act of graffiti, how it is personal expression, at times infused with political commentary, that is often not decipherable to the viewer yet still powerful in its statement. One artist who has influenced this body of work is Cy Tombly. His free and open use of mark making suggests to me words or thoughts appearing to spill out over the surface of the paper or canvas in an unconsciously emotive way without actually saying anything but still communicating powerfully.