Artist Statement

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When I start a new painting, I try not to think about what I’m going to create beforehand because anything I plan goes out the window once I start. On different days, different colors appeal to me. One color will seem to beg for another color and then another that I didn’t expect.   If I'm lucky,  I'll accidentally create a new color maybe by sliding a scraper across a wet surface.

 

If I suddenly love a color, I'll apply it thickly on one painting then press it against others to share it. That's why paintings I work on together often look like they know each other. 

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I may also turn against a certain color in a painting and have to remove all of it before the painting looks right to me. 

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Once the painting surface is covered, I repaint it differently. I need to put two or more layers of paint (or paint and collage)  on each before I’m satisfied. Those first layers are the wild part of my process. Then I decide what geometric pattern to paint on top. 

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The geometric shapes take the most time because I like crisp edges and I often change my mind about the colors and/or the shapes. I tape and retape. I use a lot of tape. A lot. 

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Once all the colors and shapes please me, I use a sander to remove some of the top layers. This can be a little scary, but the random glimpses of the undercoats add interest. 

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Sometimes I get carried away with the sander and need to do some repainting. But that also builds character. I try to be patient. Each painting can work out eventually.  It’s a lot like solving a puzzle — there’s the excitement of starting something new, a lot of concentration, plenty of frustration, and finally joy.

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P.S. When I work on canvases instead of wood panels, I do less sanding and more scraping.

 

P.S.S. I do make some paintings without using tape. 

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