"Sunset over the Russian River" Painting

In the end, my creative work is almost always about exploring the fine line that separates fantasy from daily-reality. As I seek to extract the essence of scenes and things, they inevitably start to escape my control to live a life of their own. The magic happens when I allow this process to be as it is. ... .... .... .... Raised in Provence by the Mediterranean, I moved to California when I was 25. Both places have been strong sources of inspiration which transpire through my art. - - - - - - My goal is to stir and bring forward a portion of our unconscious, be it collective or personal, and connect the viewer with their internal world of felt inner-knowing and recognition. I paint what will provide enough raw material for one to generate their own story about a place that sits at the edge of the known where fantasy begins - be it imagination or memory. I seek to do this by conveying a strong sense of atmosphere using specific color harmonies and compositions that go beyond the subject matter itself. The stories thus generated don't have to coincide because I am not looking to convey one single message or impression. I use my own perceived reality as a point of departure, but not the place of arrival. One of my rewards in this process is to hear the variety of stories and sensations people experience when viewing my art. - - - - - - Painting for me has to be mostly about process as I feel a strong pull towards "following my bliss" every step of the way. The back and forth dialogue between responding to what inspires me and what shows up on my "canvas" creates a certain sort of tension that I resolve with my self-taught technical knowledge and a desire to experiment. This exploratory way of working keeps me inspired and energized. I am inspired by a broad range of artists, styles and subject matters - with a penchant for nature and self-introspection. I am not afraid to challenge myself by taking risks, following a way of working which keeps me on my toes throughout the entire process, having to surrender to the unknown and allowing for the magic that can happen at the end.