Artist Statement

I’m not a painter…

In spite of the fact that you are viewing many of my works, which are primarily created using oil paints, I don’t consider myself a painter. I think of myself as a communicator, like a speechwriter, newspaper reporter, orator, or even in some aspects, a politician. I compose my ideas and try to present them in a manner that others can experience the way I feel while creating the composition. But where a speechwriter or reporter uses words to ply their trade, I am an artist, therefore I use the language of imagery to state my feelings and opinions. This imagery may vary from photography, to painting with realism, to figurative abstract, or even involve elements of found-object collage and assemblage. It may also vary from simple emotions like joy and contentment to more complex feelings such as fear, love and sadness. It is the process of communicating my ideas that is important more than the media used. In fact, it is the creative process of the communication that is important to me. While I am working on a piece, I am emotionally tied to it to the point of distraction. It becomes the sole focus of what I am doing. However, when I bring a piece to completion, the emotional attachment dissolves. I don’t feel the post partum effect that some artists talk about as much as I feel as though I’ve committed a captured moment of my essence and released it to the ether. The way a spoken word floats ever outward into space.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Freedom From Speech

Freedom From Speech
18 x 24 inches
Ink wash on museum board 2008

This work is based on the 2002 beheading of journalist Daniel Pearl by al-Qaida operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The photos and subsequent remorseless confession by Khalid reinforce to me the price of our first amendment and truly what a powerful tool it is. How diligently it needs to be protected and maintained.

The medium is Higgins black magic india ink and Higgins drawing ink (Red) applied in broad gestural strokes with the dark areas being built up through layers and increasing the amount of pigment in the wash. The red wash was applied last to bring it more to the forefront via the overlapping areas of the image. A drybrush 'swash' of dirty black / red mix is meant to reference the blood spray at the moment of execution.

As always, I welcome and appreciate any comments on the artwork.
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