Each painting starts with me leading the paint, it then takes on a life of its own and begins to lead me.

Back and forth like a dance. 

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Available Artwork

Quest

With life being a journey and as age gives perspective, each day is a new chance to be a better person. A chance to to inspire others. Evolve reminds us that we are works in progress. Envelop gives you the feeling of being wrapped by outstretched arms. No matter whether you need to receive or give that love. No judging. How will you chose to lead your life?

Begin Anew

After the year we’ve had due to the uncertainty of Covid-19, it is time to Begin Anew. We’ve learned a lot about the disease, others and ourselves. As an artist, I’ve chosen to focus on the positive outcomes from this pandemic and have looked to faith as exemplified in nature. This group of paintings is meant to inspire each of you to look at the silver lining when presented with an obstacle.

Tribal Series 2019

Each of us have a longing to belong. It is at the core of human nature. We are social creatures and these paintings are meant to remind us that we do. Since the beginning of time, we’ve been tribal people. Tribes from long ago and around the world have inspired this body of work: Congo Tribes, Native American Indians, and the Atocha fleet. Peacocks symbolize immortality, Pearl Ray for protection, Leopards are seen as peacekeepers and jellyfish as faith. Varying acrylic mediums and encaustic wax are layered to capture these culture’s rich textures: beads/feathers/fossils/metals. Exhibited June/July 2019 at Palette Paint 5813 Grove Ave Richmond, VA

Landscape Lens Series 2018-19

Zoom Lens - This group of paintings are the ORIGINALS that inspired each wallpaper design. They are close up sections inspired by the beauty in nature; Herpetology (reptile & amphibian skins), Arthropods, Trees, Fauna and Flowers. Thus owing subtle textures and vibrant colors to our Creator. Enjoy!

Perseverance Series 2017-2018

Adversity. We all experience it. More than often, we don’t like it. But we all get through it. How? And how is it we come out the better for it? This series explores these questions. Wabi Sabi introduces us to overcoming adversity. It has movement, color and happenstances. In Japan, wabi sabi means accepting imperfection thus embracing life. The navy diagonal line represents adversity. Still I and Still II, are the next two pieces that calm the viewer with the color palette and simple shapes… giving time to see the situation clearly, without judgement. Perspective explores possibilities as the eye is pulled to bright, textured colors and sweeps around the still shapes igniting the brain to formulate a plan to overcome the obstacle. That’s when Hope comes into the picture. The gray in this piece signifies adversity, but the flicker of the turquoise color found deep inside, gives us the power to overcome. Coleoptera is the scientific name for the beetle. In past civilizations, the beetle is seen as representing spiritual maturity. The mirror image is commonly found throughout nature so it was fitting to use an ink blot style of staining the canvas with bright colors to celebrate our growth. Renewal uses textured pops of green and yellow paint signifying spring juxtaposed to still shapes of color to represent the growth in maturity.  

Not Our Will 2016-2017

As much as we try to control things, we can not. We do not know what is best - we are unaware of the bigger picture. Our will is not always God's will. See the clashing pink and red representing our battle within and God's constant denoted by the orange line in Not Our Will. When we surrender, we understand the gift He gives to trust and live "in the present". We can't change the past. We are not in control of the future. When painting, In the Present , I wanted to convey through paint the importance of living in the now. Not yearning for tomorrow, not living in the past. So I didn’t want to completely hide the writing (graffiti) in the background as to represent the past. And applied some thinned down paint to the canvas so it could be tilted before drying to achieve the dripping effect … representing the now. In Subtleties – similar colors, hues and tones of neutral were intentionally selected to represent the mundane in our day-to-day lives. The patches of color (blue & purple) under the neutrals, are blessings that can be missed if we are not paying attention to the nuances. The Nature Of It and Being There use bold colors to remind us of His steady love.  We may think we are in control, but it’s when we allow God’s grace to lead us, to mold us, that we experience the true meaning of life.

The Healing Series 2015

I paint as a way to communicate.  In light of my 10yr old son’s diagnosis of Ewings Sarcoma (a rare bone/tissue cancer) in 2014, I painted a series entitled: Healing to give fellow cancer patients hope in their treatment and journey. As an abstract painter, I chose to paint what it looks like inside our bodies on a large scale using similar colors throughout each painting for continuity. We all have healthy and cancer cells so I referenced the healthy and cancer cells with the colors: blue and red.

This series explores how our bodies are capable of healing themselves. Our healthy cells can be triggered to attack our cancer cells. It’s finding that “trigger” that works for each patient. Through immunology our healthy cells have an inherent ability to fight cancer. These paintings reveal a close-up look inside our miraculous bodies and give a nod to the research scientists that are tirelessly working toward this cure.

The Circle Of Life Series 2014

 This series pertains to the “bigger picture” of life. My intent when painting these paintings on the floor was to not dwell on the day to day details or try to control every aspect of life but rather to focus on the bigger picture of life and what's truly important. So I did not get bogged down on any details of a painting rather I began each canvas through varying techniques including staining, pouring and large gestural movements. Several of them portray the “Circle of Life” we experience as we get older. Every path we take makes us who we are. And more often then not, makes a big circle.

The Harmony Series 2013

This series explores the harmony with nature that primitive tribes have been experiencing for thousands of years, to the search for balance that western civilization lacks. By keeping their rituals, beliefs, and customs in tact along with their respect for nature, these primitive peoples are content. By contrast, all of the technological advances intended to make life easier for western civilization have only succeeded in making life more complicated. We have unconsciously been pushed further away from nature.

In my paintings, the staining technique using hints of color applied to raw canvas and the layering of paint with organic forms, represent harmony with nature. The deliberate marks are intended to illustrate western civilizations struggle to find harmony.

Joie de Vivre Series 2012

This series celebrates art in life. Many of the paintings are inspired by the Impressionists as you note the titles of the work. I put an abstract spin on many of the classics of that time. Choosing to enlarge a section from nature to fully appreciate its beauty. In addition, adding bright colors with hi gloss texture, to add icing on the cake in celebrating art in life. 

Transparency 2011

"There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." From Leonard Cohen's song "Anthem": If it weren't for our mistakes, we wouldn't be who we are. Each "light" is unique. Being our true selves, transparent, allows our light to be seen, shared and appreciated. This series shows the self analysis of looking at our past, listening in the present and taking ownership, and moving forward in our own saddle. Each painting's title and subject lead us along the path of self acceptance. 

Nesting Series 2010 

This series navigates the path of pregnancy from conception to birth. Plant The Seed uses a neutral palette of translucent layers with sunken trenches dug with pottery tools, Whereas Quiet Egg has textured nuances that have not been sealed with a heat gun and smooth pours of pigmented wax to create a reliefed shape. Green Genes and Fertilization depict groupings of textured shapes that have layers of pigments. These and others portray 3-D illustrations of what is happening inside the body ... the process from planting the seed to fertilization.

Release Series 2009 

No matter the expectations your country, community, school, church, employer, spouse, parent, child, friend, neighbor or more often than not, we, ourselves may induce, this series explores the freedom from all of it ... regaining our identity, our independence. The joy of solitude, a break from everything. letting go. Glimmers into nature are caught in these encaustic paintings. The use of organic shapes and gentle movements help the soul rest.

The Tree Series 2007-2008

The tree series was a liberating period to play with color, shadows and depth. The encaustic medium, which is an ancient Greek technique using pigmented beeswax, is conducive to layering transparent tints of color that no other medium allows. Using a heat gun and electric skillet to melt the wax, encaustics allow me the opportunity to use the simple structure of lines from trees combined with layered backgrounds to give a sensual feeling to each painting. This draws the viewer inside each painting. 

Experimentation with Lines and Shapes 2003-2006

Discover how the layering of shapes in various colors affect depth by pushing and pulling the foreground like a yo-yo. Painters will always play around with lines. They can be interpreted in so many ways. In Greenwood II lines can take on the look of a tree. Color and shape can capture light and shadow bringing life to a painting. Other times lines connect to form bands or boxes i.e. Green Line, Green Box, Coral Line. Giving the viewer a glimpse of inside the painting or keeping it flat thereby keeping the viewer at bay. Sunset captures the nuance of complex colors as they bleed together during a small window of time. Elbow Cay Aerial illustrates an abstract aerial view of water and an island by staining subtle colors on the canvas then layering shapes of aqua to push it into the foreground.  

Ancient Art Series 1990's

From the Aztecs in Peru to the Masai Mara in Kenya, this series explores tribal art from ancient times with the intention to capture each culture through the experimentation of varying techniques. These include staining raw canvas rolled out on the floor, using a squeegee to drag paint, large palette knives to spread thick gel mediums. Layering hues of color take on primitive shapes bringing you a bolder version of ancient art.