Various Lines #3 Painting

I work in both sculpture and painting on canvas and Arches paper. My work follows two basic stylistic approaches. One is scattered or seemingly random shapes on a single ground. By varying the density and color, I can change the emotional trajectory and content of the composition. The second approach explores the use of spirals and loops as purely linear forms. In these paintings the pigment is applied by being extruded from plastic syringes of various sizes. By this method my work avoids the pictorial. My sculpture and painting are not burdened by stories and narratives but are objects in the world. The most recent paintings are based on a figure/ground contest articulated by lines of various types and colors. The lines give a dynamic of movement and tension. These lines are applied not with a brush but are extruded directly from the paint tube or from a plastic medical catheter, which gives a physicality and dimension to the lines. The width of the lines can be changed by cutting the tapered tip of the nozzle. I also use paint knives for heavier lines. This method creates line that appear to vibrate in relationship to the static ground color. I do not use a straight edge; the lines are the result of my hands. In 1971 I was awarded a fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA. There were many accomplished artists that acted as advisors and mentors to fellows. I learned a great deal from Myron Stout about mimimalism and the power of simplicity. Also Robert Motherwell, whose work I greatly admire. My work has evolved to encompass both sculpture and canvas/paper. It has been my objective to avoid decorative, pictorial elements. The works should be seen as discrete, original objects. After graduation from College, I was employed in various artistic and creative fields. I expressed my creativity at McGann Bronze Factory in Somerville, MA where I created dimensional graphics for plaques and sculptures for memorial tablets. Subsequently I was a designer and product manager for Empire of Carolina and Mego, Inc. The figures I created show the power of action. Many of the items I sculpted at Mego are collectors’ items today.