Icing on the Cake No. 2 Painting

I’m an explorer on the canvas. Layer by layer, I build and subtract—painting, drawing, scraping back, and then adding more. From a distance, my work offers bold, graphic forms; up close, viewers discover rich organic textures and intricate details. I’m drawn to contrasts—light and shadow, vivid hues and muted tones, smooth and rough surfaces, angular and curvilinear shapes—mirroring the interplay of strength and delicacy I see in both nature and ourselves. I strive to reflect this tension in my work: the strong and the soft. My process combines oil, hand-painted collage, acrylic, graphite, and oil stick. Inspired by Franz Kline’s idea of automatism—what he called “pouring out” before editing—I begin with an automatic drawing in graphite and wax crayon. Translucent layers of paint follow, interspersed with further mark-making and additional layers, building a visual language that evolves organically. Painting is a deep dive act that happens within oneself, with a goal of pulling out something beautiful for the world to connect with. This has become even more important to me since an early diagnosed breast cancer was resolved, leaving me grateful and even more focused and motivated. Everyone has gifts from the Creator. I believe it is the duty of each to share our gifts with the planet. My paintings are a brave look inward – revealing what lies beneath both literally and spiritually. Yogis call it the “divine flame” – the spark that motivates you in life. In Buddha’s words, “Look within, thou art the Buddha”, while Jesus taught us that “The kingdom of heaven is within you”. For me, painting is the most life affirming thing to do.