The Gardens Painting

I am inspired by the thick oil paints I work with, works of artists such as Joan Mitchell, Cy Twombly and Rauschenberg. They all can be very different, but they all inspire me to push my own boundaries. I believe we need to be consistent in our works and quality of works as artists. But, I also believe we don't do ourselves justice in our careers to confine ourselves and strictly fall within certain parameters. We grow when we push ourselves, explore techniques and mediums. I use each painting to do this (in more than one way) and challenge myself. Every painting is significant in the way that it brings me to another point. They are all valuable to me and sometimes I even like to revisit them in different mediums and attitude. These paintings are a continuation of my studio work. I continue to pull from the landscapes I have in the past, aerial views, nature and urban landscapes. As I walk through pathways I put down in my own paintings I am guided around the canvas, creating landmarks, adventure, beauty as I see it. I encourage the viewer to find their own within each work, evoking good memories or feelings of being within a similar landscape, in reality or in mind. I am enjoy working with oils and oil sticks, making marks with my fingers, the sticks and large paint brushes and the freedom I have to create,which is quite different than when working with textile as I had in the past. There is a layering that takes place within these paintings that I love, fearlessly putting down large, thick marks knowing that interest also comes later during the journey, by mark making over and scraping off and exploring the paint. This painting is created on a gallery wrap canvas, edges painted white and it is wired in back, ready to hang.