My first painting was created with the guidance of Caren Cunningham and my fellow students at Bellarmine University’s Art Department. This experience taught me that painting from a place of emotion brought more energy and life to my work.
Fruits and Vegetables Large Format
My second large body of work was created in David O. Schuster’s studio when I sought guidance from him while I was moving away from Ceramics and into Painting. Large images of everyday foods like pears, apples, eggplants, mundane pieces of life. We all live these in a small way every day, so I chose to blow them up on large canvases with strong background colors to enhance their presence. Painting so large allowed me to explore large stroke making. Bigger brushes allowed me the freedom to go big and draw the viewer into the concept as well as the actual fruit portrayed.
Henry County Works
My favorite series that is ongoing is my work form Henry County Kentucky. Our friends The Guthrie’s Home and land has always held a special place in my heart and soul. These paintings are a through line in all of my work. They are peaceful to create and joyful to bring my inner being to a place that I love.
Bardstown Road
Another series that has been ongoing our my neighborhood’s business district. Buildings and people that are part of the fabric of our everyday lives. We are lucky to live in a well-grounded and historic area of Louisville, Kentucky. Grasping bits and pieces of those everyday trappings are rewarding and validating to the hard work that our friends and neighbors put in to maintaining local vibrant community.
Barns in Various Forms
Having been born and raised in Kentucky, with my maternal Grandfather a lifelong farmer, I have always been drawn to barns and the landscape surrounding the winding roads that lead to those wide open spaces of the farmland.
In both the Ashbourne Farms series and the Barns in Various Forms, the barns themselves became the focus of my work. Ashbourne is a more realistic look, whereas the Barns in Various Forms are abstract in Nature. I had been studying the work of David Hockney and contemplating his approach to abstraction in a landscape format. So the Barns in Abstract form were inspired by that exploration.
Figurative Works
Figurative works always intrigue me and allude me. The large-scale painting in my collection, entitled “Kites with Dad” was my very first painting. That painting is 4’ x 4’ and was the beginning of my interest in large-scale painting and the figure.
Through this work began my interest in capturing the spirit of my young family as individuals and also a collective unit.
Often I only render in my composition the backs of a person walking away. By doing this, I hope to bring their purposefulness, gate, and energy around them into focus for the viewer.
Occasionally, I will paint a portrait composition. This type of composition is if the person is interacting with another person, or their presence is such that their eyes can tell a story. I have a large collection of figurative paintings, because, as you can see, I capture the figure often in my Ceramics work as well. I am always chasing the connection between the figure or human existence as it translates into everyday life.
Abstract Paintings
I have only in the past few years explored abstraction. The painting in my abstract collection “Houses on the Hill Brisbane” was inspired by or first visit to Brisbane and the enchanting town that reminded me of Europe. All the houses are built on the side of the San Bruno Mountain and facing the San Francisco Bay.
The ‘Barn Series’ originated with my renewed interest in David Hockney a well-respected and prolific painter who incorporates whimsy in landscapes.
I am currently continuing to explore abstract projects. Some within this series are AVAILABLE for SALE, and some new ones are on the way so please inquire through my contact page for availability.
