ARTIST STATEMENT

 The world for me is a big playground, a beautiful gem that I don’t have

enough time during my lifetime to fully discover. I love to take the byways

on my motorcycle to see what’s around the next curve. It is never about

the destination, but the journey instead.

My paintings are all about discovery and I never know ahead of time what

will come out at the end. I start by pasting layers of papers onto the

canvas to give it some texture and once the paper is glued, paints follow

to cover the papers, leaving small windows, adding lines, pasting more

paper, scratching paint away until it is time to pause.

Then I sit back and almost meditate over the canvas, just like looking at

clouds. What do I see, what’s there? I turn the canvas, add and subtract

marks, look at it, turn it again until I tune into something. It can be images

from years ago, a human figure, something mechanical, anything that pops

into my mind. It can be heavy and dramatic, or I was in a giggle mood and

the painting shows it and hopefully makes you smile.

Then I take a photo and edit it on my phone in an app where I can see

what the painting would look like if I took parts out or added others. If I like

it and think it is strong, I run with it and work on the canvas to catch that

snapshot I had in my mind. If I don’t like it, the process continues for

however long it takes to come to that moment. The canvas leads the way

and shows me where it wants to go.

Then the editing begins, which is the most difficult part of the process. My

goal is to leave suggestions that gives you enough room for YOUR own

story.

The painting is finished when we are done talking to each other and it is

time to let it go so others can have their dialogues with it.  I consider a painting successful when it makes someone stop—even if only for a moment. In a world that constantly asks us to move faster, I hope my work offers an invitation to pause, take a breath, and simply "smell the roses." If a painting encourages someone to slow down, discover something new, or reconnect with a feeling they didn't expect, then it has fulfilled its purpose.

Ultimately, my goal is to create art that enriches everyday life through color, texture, and the quiet power of reflection.

BIO

• 1993-1997 Studying Graphic Design at the Werkkunstschule in Luebeck, Germany

• 1997-1998 Graphic Designer at Solares Hills Design in Key West

• 1998-2015 self employed, making commercial art for the Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West with hand painted t-shirts and etchings

• 2002-2008 member of a group of artist around Roberta B. Marks at the College in Key West, studying abstract art

• group shows in Key West at Woodenhead Gallery and Lucky Street Gallery 

• 2007 Grant from Ann McKee Artists Fund in the Florida Keys

• 2014 Trip to Peru with students from Tennessee Tech  to lead an art project in an orphanage outside of Lima 

• 2008-2026 self employed, manufacturing leather goods for Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles in Granville, TN

• 2024 pre-retirement, getting back into painting, enrolled for 1 year at Acrylic University (online)

• 2025 Group shows at Cookeville Performing Art Center 

• 2025 Group show at Cookeville Art Gallery and Studio

• 2025 Annual Art Prowl in Cookeville, TN

• 2026 Group shows at Cookeville Performing Art Center 

• 2026 Group show at Cookeville Art Gallery and Studio