Every line must be beautiful.

I use watercolor paint without preconceptions of what a watercolor should look like. Paint is paint.

My interest in painting with watercolor was inspired by a gifted college professor who encouraged me to pursue my dreams of being an artist. Although a purist himself, he complimented me on my journey of a non-traditional approach to painting with watercolor.

I rely on the transparent nature of watercolor paint using multi-layered glazes to achieve depth of color, often creating texture by incising into the surface of the paper, breaking up the surface with texture to add visual interest. Strong compositional design moves the viewer’s eye through the painting keeping them actively engaged.   

My subject matter includes a variety of animals, such as lambs, cats, and dogs, frequently in combination with the female figure. The figures are exaggerated for expression.

Enjoyment of the possibilities for dynamic, visual movement are created by painting koi fish. I often use a vertical format to enhance a different and satisfying interpretation distinguishing my paintings from other koi theme work.

I consider myself to be a narrative painter. Story and fantasy evolve the themes in my work. Story teaches and binds us together. I love to play with the unexpected element. Look for an excessively long tail, a menacing claw. So often, we assume we know what we are seeing in art… life… but is what we think we are seeing, what is really going on?

I have always been fascinated by cats. Many have walked in and out of my life. The “cat” series began as drawings using Prismacolor pencils. Watercolors emerged into paintings with scratched surfaces creating a degree of abstraction in the images. Repetitive, textural design visually unites the background with the cat, but does not obstruct the importance of the cat. My idea is to express the nature of cats going beyond what a cat looks like. You know what I mean if you have ever been owned by a cat!

The drawings are worked with Prisma Colors, Faber Castell and /or Caran D’Ache Luminance colored pencils on Bristol Board acid free paper.

The paintings are done with Winsor Newton or Holbein professional grade, permanent watercolor paint on stretched, acid-free 140 lb. Arches cold press paper.

All matting materials are archival quality.

Location: Kane County Magazine Gallery

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