Artist Statement
In recent work I have examined aspects of the presence and/or absence of an object or figure in a “space” and the interactions of those figures within that space as a central concern. I am currently working with these physical spaces in conjunction with aspects of memory (i.e. photos, diaries, stories, etc), heavily relying on the liminal, or, indefinable in-between spaces that accompany most descriptions of memory; focusing primarily on the uncertainty of detail and uncanny sense of blankness that is always present. Using things such as childhood imagery and toys as my subjects, I feel I can address some of those blank spaces and the possible comfortable substitutions that might be used. As an oil painter, my desire has always been to depict the sincere essence of a figure or object and what I will call its personal atmosphere. I am continually fascinated by the “form” of an object–its structure and placement within a space. These experiments of transposing objects into places of memory awakened me to the fact that if I can successfully inform the subject’s surroundings, I will more successfully inform itself–its actions and reactions, its personality and fundamental nature, its past memory and present life.
In the work described as “mixed media prints” I developed a process that would allow me to start with a small digital print, excavate and amplify through traditional oil painting methods and materials, and finally end with a large format, high quality digital print. One of my main goals is to defy the containment of physical outlines and features; with the realization that a figure or object does not act as a static, unchangeable entity; it is continuously in movement and interaction with its surroundings. All other works are purely traditional in method. The work began as excavations of film stills, but in more recent work I have transferred this technique to actual photos that seem to be especially laden with an atmosphere of human trace and memory.
