I am captivated by cerulean skies and cobalt water. I am beguiled by the color blue.
In my work I explore the myriad shades of blue to portray the feelings of air and water, two elements so essential to human existence.
It begins with a blank canvas, covered in some basic shade of blue or sometimes green. From there I add more blue, more definition, until the painting tells me it is complete. Then I step back and try to read what it says.
Sometimes it speaks of the fury of the storm: rain pelting the water, waves lifting to the sky, dark clouds in the distance. Sometimes it speaks of the peace of a new day when all is calm and expectant. Many times it speaks of something in between, the tension that is so often present in life. Often a dark element will show up in one corner, a reminder that the world is more complex than we would like it to be.
Each painting is unique because I start with several shades of blue on my palette and mix them as I go. I don’t worry about paying attention to what goes into a mixture. I don’t care if I can ever repeat a certain shade. Those unique shades belong to that painting.
Many talented artists look at a scene and paint what they see so that you, too, can view that scene captured forever on canvas. I am not one of those people. My paintings are impressions and suggestions rather than realism.
I carry within me fifty plus years of blue skies. I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas and have seen my fair share of sea, rivers, ponds, bayous and spacious skies. The memory of all this blue is imprinted on my soul and I paint to express that beauty.
Artist Statement
Blue is a color that evokes the essence of air and water. Drawing on a variety of shades and techniques, I seek to explore the range of human experience, from the tranquility of a calm sea to the tempestuous energy of a stormy sky.
Each painting begins as a blank canvas, gradually transformed by layers of blue. The final composition emerges organically, each layer a response to my own inner and outer environment. The unique blend of colors and textures in each painting reflects the ever-changing nature of life.
I paint on canvas with acrylics, utilizing tools such as brayers, palette knives. My aim is to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and to invite viewers to contemplate their own connection to these essential elements. All through the simplicity of the color blue.
Juried Shows
“Community Expressions: Artists of Upper Arlington,” Concourse Gallery, July-September 2024
“Endangered,” Concourse Gallery, Upper Arlington, OH, July-September 2023
Other Shows and Displays
Collection display, Dublin Community Rec Center, May 2024
Spring Show, Dublin Area Art League, Dublin Community Rec Center, April 2024
Exploration of Blue, Display, Reike Center, Grandview, OH, Jan-Feb 2024
“Tiny Show – It’s Gonna Be Huge,” Wild Goose Creative, February 2024
Autumn Expressions, Dublin Area Art League, Dublin Community Rec Center, Nov-Dec 2023
Upper Arlington Library Display, Dublin Area Art League, Upper Arlington, December 2022