Schooled in Flemish Old Master techniques, I have a great respect and admiration for the traditional systems and applications. Currently, I’m using an expanded palette and a bold, active paint application to portray my realities.
I experience life, with all its subtleties and intricacies, as a direct, perceptible experience. Therefore, my subjects are what I perceive and are all worthy of depiction by virtue of their existence in the world.
The act of painting is a series of constant surprises – an experience that is always exhilarating and, at times, even magical. Bringing composition, color, surface and light quality together is my continual struggle and challenge.
Why sheep? The sheep series started with a painting retreat to a farm in Pennsylvania eight summers ago. I went to paint cows, but couldn’t take my eyes off the Jacob’s Sheep, an ancient breed that dates back to biblical times. I found their huge curved horns, fluffy spotted coats and spindly short legs quite captivating. They’ve become my primary source of imagery, allowing me to explore paint application, surface texture, composition and color in a way that satisfies me.