My Prayer Painting

I’m a contemporary artist working out of my studio in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I try to defy classification with my work – a new way of seeing something. I believe art should be striking. To say it like it’s never been said before. I like painting the sensuality of the human form in a raw, non-idealized way. Or an abstract statement. Or a face in the crowd, a sky, sea or landscape. But always with an idea in mind. I sketch with charcoal and use oil paint in over-lapping, thin layers to push and smear motion across the canvas. I paint on a large scale using bold brush strokes and vibrant colors. I feel this best plays up the energy, power and movement in my paintings. I’m influenced by action painters like Franz Kline and Willem and Elaine de Kooning. They inspire me to compose with a purpose. To just put it down without much calculating. My paintings are held in private collections and have been featured in regional and national galleries across the country – receiving awards in a number of international juried shows.