|
Influences:
The very beginning of my art career had an interesting start. First, I don’t recall ever painting or drawing at all
as a child. When I first began college I was a Psychology/Sociology major, intent on saving the world. Early on I took a Painting
course, just to fill a requirement. At that time, my ego was small (having just gone through a divorce) and my instructor
was very encouraging about the quality of my first painting. Needless to say, I needed this positive feedback, so I started
eating, sleeping and breathing Fine Art. That was nearly 30 years ago.
I was fascinated by historic and contemporary representational artists at a time when representational art was not the
vogue. This preoccupation led me to start painting in a more Contemporary Photorealistic style, being loyal to the photograph.
At one point I was told, by an Instructor, that “You’ll never be an artist if you don’t paint from the elbow.”
All this negative comment accomplished was to keep myself strong and going in a direction that felt right to me.
That direction has led me to how I create today. I made a transition from Photorealism to a more Hyperreallist style. I take
a very ordinary object and depict it in an exaggerated fashion, through size and color extreme, and invite the viewer to perceive
the object in a whole new light.
Working process:
The process of painting has always been so much more valuable to me than the completed product. I am always challenging
myself with different subject matter, different painting mediums, different supports, and so forth to keep my work fresh.
In every work I start, there will always be an element that I don’t quite understand. After nearly thirty years of painting
I still feel I have much to learn, and will continue to keep setting up the challenges.
On the Challenges of Being Creative with Bipolar Affective Disorder:
Prior to being diagnosed and medicated, my
illness had manifested itself with most of my time in a Hypo-manic state with the Depressive states being few and far
between. This allowed me to work full time and still be able to paint for many hours at one sitting. Finally, I
burned out. As the illness had progressed so did the mood extremes. Ten years ago I found myself rapid-cycling from
full blown Mania to life threatening Depression. I have been in and out of many hospitals as the doctors attempted to
stabilize my condition. I still struggle for more than a few brief months at a time of somewhat stability. It is interesting
to note that my Psychiatrist and Therapist judge just how well my medications are working based on my ability
to paint.
I feel I’m living on a razor blade. If I’m too Manic I cannot create because my brain is working too fast.
I go from mixing paint on my palette to trying to remember what I was doing with it. If I try to force it, the days work will
surely be wiped off with turpentine. If I go to the other end of the spectrum, Depression, I become too immobilized to attempt
any work.”
Currently, I continue my work as the medication allows. I have good days and bad, productive and non-productive. My
painting gives me purpose. My attitude is positive.
| 
