Works
Synesthesia
Synesthesia 5, inspired by 99 Red Balloons
Synesthesia 8, inspired by White Rabbit
Synesthesia, the neurological phenomenon of experiencing sensory cross-over, such as feeling sound or tasting words, is the term Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky used to define the relationship he perceived between color and music. My response to this theory is to create a series of mixed-media collages inspired by the titles of songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s in which a color from the chromatic scale of painting is included in the title.
There are eight pieces in this series corresponding to the three primary and the three secondary colors, plus black and white. For each of these, I selected songs with titles, lyrics and historical contexts that seem uncannily pertinent to today’s socio-political issues.
Collage Nudes
Collage Nudes 4
After working for many years with classical techniques applied to live model drawing, I discovered the creative impact of combining this type of traditional figurative work with collage.
I start the process by selecting images of interesting color and content that I tear up and glue onto a base sheet. I then peel away any unattached areas to create a textured surface. I rapidly sketch the nudes on the paper whose collaged base best complements the composition offered by the model’s pose. Working with oil pastels offers the possibility of drawing in an intuitive, forceful manner that gives depth and vibrancy to the composition.
Predella
Predella 1
Predella 2
Predella is an Italian term given to an ensemble of small, individual, painted panels forming the base of a medieval altarpiece. These meticulously detailed panels depict scenes of the life of the subject, usually a saint or other religious figure, who is the focus of the main painting above the predella.
In my reinterpretation of the predella, I prefer a more modern approach. Using rapid sketching of nude models and selected body parts that surround the main figure, I present a sensual celebration of the human body. In this way, I transform the sacred intent with my profane updating.
Monoprint
Monoprint 1
This styrofoam printing technique could be considered a contemporary counterpoint to the linoleum block print. Similarly to the traditional block print, a styrofoam plaque is etched with an image and then inked before pressing a paper onto its surface. Each pass will produce a slightly different print due to the unique applications of the inks and to the eventual wearing down of the styrofoam. I use the organic qualities of this process with simple nude compositions where the fluid lines of the pose evoke the gracefulness of Asian prints.
Monoprint 2