The use of color and line to express emotion has been central to my work since I began painting a decade ago. For several years, I focused on creating straightforward representational works – landscapes and interior scenes, in particular. Over time, my subject matter has become more subjective and abstract. Starting with easily recognizable images – desert vistas, carnival rides, pine cones, leaves - that evoke emotional memories for me, I explore these images, push their lines and structure, and introduce color that expresses the emotions suggested by the image. I am continuing that exploration in my current work, using color, line and form to convey feelings evoked by my experiences – a cold Midwestern winter day, an arid landscape in the high desert. I am also exploring ways that color, line and contrast can transform neutral source images, such as snow or salt crystals, into something new, surprising, visually ambiguous and emotionally expressive.

10/10/12