Soul Shine Painting

What are the major themes you pursue in your work? The word “theme” in art speaks to the style or motif the artist employs when illustrating the main subject of his or her work. As an abstract expressionist I rely on emotion rather than subject matter and proceed with no preconceived plan. When the painting seems to find its own way, I follow. There is an inner energy based on years of trial, error, and accident behind all my work, but the real force comes when I’m led into the unknown. That’s where all the surprises are. How has your style and practice changed over the years? I’ve gone from academic realism to where I’ve stepped back and tossed the paint at the canvas. Both methods require dedication and hard work to achieve any success. A long time ago, I learned that talent could only take you so far. It was when I moved away from the tight rendering of figure and form and dove into pure abstraction that I felt my value as a painter. Can you walk us through your process? Do you begin with a sketch, or do you just jump in? How long do you spend on one work? How do you know when it is finished? I often work on two or three pieces at one time. Applying areas of color that require drying time, and then adding line and markings for movement and structure. Usually, I return to the larger canvases, sometimes for a period of several days, always being careful not to lose the painting’s vitality. And yes, I’ve shoved several aside to be coated out with gesso for another day. But a few survive. To these, I add thin glazes of varnish and pigment until they warn me stop.