Oil on Board  60"x 48" I have been fascinated by objects all my life. I am entranced by their history and purpose. So many of these objects have some kind meaningful attraction for me. Although I don't always understand what that is, part of my quest seems to be to find out. Disparate objects coming together, often to tell a story or to convey some meaning, or to speak about how things might be arranged. A convergence of alien things in a way that is harmonic and beautiful, that is the purpose here. The strict frontal presentation is a choice I make to ensure the viewer understands my straightforward approach, and fulfills the stage-like setting for the unification of all the players. The central object here is a vintage coffee maker and  is the main stimulus for this painting. I find much beauty in these common objects and try to arrange them in a way that is poetic and musical . Sometimes they tell a story, or maybe they are just the right color note or shape. What matters is how they relate to one another in the most perfect way. So much of what I am about is that coming together and beautiful harmony. 

Oil on canvas 72"x 36" This is one of several paintings utilizing this kind of vertical format. This format is reminiscent of what it's like to see something through a doorway. The format is so natural to me and is one I have used since the beginning of my painting career.The verticality of the painting is so much what it's about. It gives me an opportunity to use the drape differently, than it would be otherwise . The large flashlight emphasizes the verticality of the painting. The copper pitcher and blue oil can help establish the really warm and cool notes.

This painting is an attempt to bring the figure or at least the elements of it together with more common still life ojects. I am trying to imply that there is a story with meaning that has its roots in 19th century French Academic painting. My initial response to the set-up was one of a hollywood-style red carpet photo op.with the drape acting as a dress and the red, which to me always signifies female. The shell, like Botticellis Birth of Venus, the copper decanter, the water source as in Ingres' painting with that name.The wood pole as the spear of Venus. It was not until i had devloped the painting that the pumpkin became the representation of the carriage that Cinderella would have used.

This is a large life-size painting that I recently finished. I was trying to bring together certain aspects of the figure with those of still life. What I realized in doing so, was that I didn't want a human  persona. I needed the shape and the knowledge that the shape was human. I wasn't interested in the persona, I was interested in what the shape represented by being a human form. I had essentially brought together the two in the way that was much more symbiotic. I had managed to bring human form into the serenity of the still life, and with it came all of its connotations, all of its history. At that point I seemed to satisfy my need for the figure as a part of my focus, and was beginning to find a way to use its power as subject matter.