Artist's
Statement
On
September Ninth, 1977 (at 5:05 p.m.) I quit my last job. With
the words of the great watercolorist George Post ringing in my
ears ("If not now, when?"), I took the plunge and joined the ranks
of professional artists. I was scared to death, and had no idea
if making a living was even possible. But I was 'burning' for
art, and all I wanted was a chance to take my best shot.
The past twenty three years have brought both fat and lean times,
along with countless changes in the work. The path wasn't always
clear, especially in the beginning. But through perseverance and
a whole lot of hard work, my ideas have clarified into a coherent
philosophy that is the foundation of my art. Actual working methods
are an attempt to animate three simple ideas.
First
is the concept that art is a language, albeit a non-verbal one.
We study the grammar of the language of painting so that we may
communicate in a more effective way. But like any language, its
ultimate purpose lies in the content of the expression, not in
the mastery of its usage.
Second
is the concept that art is autobiographical. A body of work should
reflect the life of the artist. When we draw upon our personal
experiences, it naturally follows that we will have something
meaningful to say using the language of art.
And
third is the concept that painting from life is the great teacher.
This is not my good idea, it's the wisdom of the ages handed down
to us. We paint from life in order to learn how to see. This is
the foundation of an individual painting technique. Painting from
life is the moment of truth. If you can paint light, then you
can paint everything under the sun.
From
a technical standpoint, the essential fact of my work is the experience
of working in both oil and watercolor. The cross-fertilization
of ideas, along with the plein air experience, has produced a
body of work that looks more like itself and less like that of
my mentors and teachers as every day passes. We all have a song
to sing. These simple ideas have helped me find mine.
