The Freedom to Create
Painting is my ultimate act of freedom—the thrill of creating my own special universe. It allows me to detach, becoming an observer and interpreter of the world, with inspiration drawn primarily from my personal experiences traveling globally.
My Philosophy & Process: Embracing Discovery
I was initially taught to follow a fixed, consistent approach, but I realized this led to a routine and a “safe place” that stifled genuine creation. For me, developing a consistent style meant surrendering to the fear of failing. I refuse to lose the freedom to experiment and occasionally fail.
My creative process is an intuitive dance: I choose the subject, but then the painting takes me where it wants to be. I believe a painting creates itself, and I am just a servant to its creation. A pre-determined approach would rob me of this essential feeling of discovery.
My Aesthetic Focus: Dynamism, Contrast, and Color
My body of work is intentionally diverse, ranging from gestural black and white pieces—which I find can depict more dramatic messages—to more realistic full-color works that explore subtlety.
I concentrate on achieving dynamism, contrast, and atmosphere through careful composition. My dominating patterns are movement and a sense of life, even in inanimate subjects.
In my palette, I am drawn to the powerful combination of contrasts:
- Reds: Representing passion, heat, power—the Yin.
- Cool Blues: Serving as the calming, balancing Yang.
I favor acrylics for their intuitive nature, allowing me to build the painting quickly. I work with big brushes and broad strokes to simplify shapes, avoiding distracting details and letting me focus purely on color, contrast, and composition.
My Definition of Success
My greatest achievement is the freedom to create based on what I feel. A piece is successful when it is dynamic, possesses life, accurately represents the intended mood, and when the harmonic relationship of color, composition, and subject speaks to me.
My strong foundation in color harmony, anatomy, composition, and perspective allows me to successfully approach any subject my imagination demands—from people and animals, to cityscapes, landscapes, and mechanical forms.