In this series I am building illumination through the use of material form, responding to observations of glowing of light from different worldy and environmental sources. I utilize collected imagery and memory of events to create compositions that develop a real sense of light through the use of paint. Some of these images, however abstracted, look at the gathering of people assembled in candlelight vigils, holding flames for healing, memorializing, and celebrating life. As an artist I most often work in isolation, but am affected by contemporary events and my place within them. Themes I regularly work with include the movement of peoples, immigration, and migration; the assembling of groups for protest, vigil, performance, and demonstration, corresponding to major events that move us to action; and environmental movements and changes that encourage us to think about our human impact. I am working to find a connection to others through the rendering of light in these compositions.
It is a slow process to make these works, layering color on top of color, anticipating the movement of the paint under my hand, balancing control and chaos, allowing discoveries as the shapes overlap and come into being. I shut the studio door each night to let the shapes cure and at every next session the paintings reveal to me a confrontation of new choices. Painting as an activity is both beautiful and hard, but gives connection of the artist to everything in the world at large.