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Artist Statement
I am an advocate for the possibility of complex visual narrative in contemporary art. Orson wells said, "To work, a story doesn’t have to be real - it has to be true". My guess is that a “true” painting is one that connects with an engaged viewer in some internal way.
Although my paintings are thematically specific they avoid a sense of an internal ‘plot’ of events. The narratives of my paintings are therefore able to remain in some way irresolute. My aspiration is for the image to remain permanently open to possibility.
Each of my paintings tries to be one embodiment of some majestic spirit of adventure. I am a “would-be adventurer” that is, I would be if not for the daring and physical exertion required. Instead, I am a top-notch adventure enthusiast. Having a love of the subject but no first hand knowledge my treatment of adventure and exploration has more empathetic humor and awe rather than drama or conquest.
Often depicted are outdoorsmen going about their business in a primal wood or on the sea. These theatrically composed landscapes are hardly natural settings. They are more like overzealous backdrop paintings for an unknown Verdi opera.
This majestic spirit of adventure in my paintings is not necessarily the world of high action. Through force of will these men, my surrogates humbly cultivate their painted landscape and labor to form the essential relationships of their illusory world. The content of the journey often involves routine events such as, searching for a lost pet, digging a moat or some bird watching. This may seem unremarkable but actually what is being depicted is the inching forward of the civilizing process. They are in the act of creation and the act itself is essential to their survival.
We are working together. Through painting I am like these roaming outdoorsmen in the process of becoming more civilized. Curious intellect, hearty enthusiasm and lack of firsthand experience is my recipe for conjuring up the imaginary.
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