Life took a turn for the much better last May. I saved some money and left a 4 year long corporate role to devote my time to my artwork.

While the job used some of my design skills, I had been working in/teaching computer-based graphics for a long time and wanted to get back to making hands-on art…feeling the materials, squishing the paint, etc. At this point, that specifically means abstract painting and collage.

For about a year and a half beforehand, I dedicated most of my weekends to experimenting and exploring materials, ideas and techniques. Collage is a great way to start doing that, since you can change your mind before you commit to a composition.

Most of my adult life has been focused on art, design and teaching, but in the past, my work was very different than it is now. I’m still feeling my way through the challenges of a new direction (not that you ever stop feeling your way through).

Years ago I was an airbrush illustrator. I worked with acrylic paint, as I do now, but the content was pretty surreal. To pull off surrealism, you need to be able make what you’re painting realistic. What draws me now is abstraction, which takes a very different (and I feel, more complex) way of approaching my work. 

It’s taken awhile to get back to the website, since a gallery isn’t much of one without anything to look at. I’ve been trying to build a body of work and get more clarity about where I want to take it, but at least there are some images now. Feel free to check them out.

I also have a list of video tutorials planned… either for approaches I discover as I go along, something that makes life easier or answers questions I’ve had. Anything that might be useful in the your art practice is on the table. Hopefully, they can save you some time, confusion or aggravation. 

I hope you’ll join me for the ride.