Neon Painting

Born and raised in Philadelphia, I earned a BA in art history and urban studies from Boston University. Post-college, I was hired as a graphic designer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and remained in the field for over 20 years. My first few decades of painting were devoted to portraiture. Capturing a likeness came naturally and I loved interacting with my subjects, where I could connect, interpret and reveal. Intuitive expression evolved into a more formal, contemplative practice of intent. I created thematic series, and developed a style of flattening and simplifying. Eventually, I became curious about the colors and forms within the faces I was painting. Shifting from portraiture to abstraction didn’t feel like a huge leap. I apply and develop many of the same systems, techniques and themes. Process and perception are major considerations in my practice. Borrowing heavily from my graphic design past, I often use software to manipulate photographs of works-in-progress to expedite decision-making; and to create designs that I translate into paintings. Years of assuring color-correct reproduction has led to an exacting sense of color formulation and nuance. My paintings are meant to be contemplative. I strive for uncertainty of dimension and perspective. Boundaries between representational and abstract, as well as what is recessive or dominant are also meant to be ambiguous. This push-and-pull is exciting to my eye. I currently live in Connecticut. My paintings have been in a number of exhibitions and are in numerous private collections.