My paintings are enigmatic, symbolic, and often thought-provoking compositions that fall under the category of magical-realism. My influences are many, including historical antecedents to twentieth century modernism. I have had many late-night conversations, brush in hand, with the ghosts of narrative painting.
Although I strive for a painterly surface and employ careful draftsmanship in building my compositions, the primary goal of my work is to explore the image in terms of time and place, object and space. Some of my paintings reference historical themes, while others explore content/image relationships. This often results in an unexpected set of meanings. I am continually working with the metaphor.
It has taken me years to understand the painting process. From the very beginning of my awakening as an artist, I've been drawn to art museums and master paintings. As a boy, I attended art classes at The Denver Art Museum. Hours before the museum opened on Saturdays, I'd sneak down to the darkened galleries of 15th and 16th Century painting where amazing scenes were playing out. Battle scenes, religious rituals, and life in medieval Europe-- these narrative scenes we're mysterious, sometimes foreboding, yet always fascinating. I couldn't get over the idea that artists had produced such powerful visual statements with only brush and paint.
Over the years, I have learned that what takes place between artist and viewer is often surreal. To be alone with an artist's work, standing literally where the artist stood in making a painting, is an opportunity to have a virtual conversation with the artist: Who are you? What is this painting about? How did this artistic statement come about? When did this act of creation take place? Why am I moved? We all need to have this conversation with art.
