What kind of original art inspires you?

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To me the creative process is not about quotas, identifiable style or subject matter or even income. Rather, the desire is to experience a blank slate  converted to an image. Images for what they spark in memory or emotion. Maybe a tinge of blush from a walk or touch with an intimate partner or from the rush created by unique sounds and fragrance of a high mountain meadow, lake or forest. Something to contemplate! “Contemplate” is a key foundation for me. As I have also been involved in poetry I recognized that words have different meanings based upon the context of the reader’s experiences. This is no less true in the visual arts. You are looking at my thoughts, feelings or maybe lack thereof. You may not relate to my mixture of colors and contours but if you relate to your own experiences—mission accomplished! Even titles could have meaning and they might help you understand where I might have been during the metamorphic process.

Nature is chaotic and random, yet it is structured. Every aspen tree is different (random), grows as a clump, helter-skelter (chaotic), yet one knows it is an aspen tree rather than an elm tree due to its structure. Nature can also be ruthless. The pixels of our daily life can be viewed, after the fact, the same way. Anyone that has read the “Seasons” books by Daniel J. Levinson (of a Man’s Life and of a Woman’s Life) will immediately understand that our chaotic existence has some universal truths, or to me, structure. My structure therefore tends to the general observation rather than the specific. Close up, my work is chaotic but hopefully its structure brings a tinge to the cheeks, a long repressed memory to the minds-eye or even beauty to a forest ruthlessly decimated by nature.

I have been fortunate to be a member of the Heritage Fine Arts Guild in Littleton, CO for several years. They accepted me with my foibles without hesitation. Participation in three consecutive “This is Colorado” juried shows as well as a national juried show at the Lincoln Gallery in Loveland, CO has been enjoyable. These are in addition to numerous exhibitions and smaller juried shows all of which gave me an extra sense of being. In all I have been fortunate to have delivered over 60 art pieces.  During 2020, three different juried shows (in addition to those referenced above) have accepted my entries. 

In summary, I tend to stray toward: 1) acrylic object/subject-based abstract impressionism with a muted interjection of painterly techniques; 2) abstract impressionism using alcohol ink. I hope these elements combine to stimulate contemplative absorption of the viewer’s minds-eye regardless of their experiences.