How it all Began

Painting for me is the act of manipulating paint and manipulating colors, of layering, of adding, of subtracting, of scumbling and sanding and glazing. I work with artist’s quality oils on linen or canvas.

I begin a new painting by toning the canvas so to better judge color and value. I follow with a quick sketch in paint, and setting down the shadow shapes for the darker values. I usually paint in layers, allowing the previous layer to dry before painting a new one. This is when the process of manipulating the paint begins. Each painting is unique with some undergoing more revisions than others. My best paintings occur when I put my own, preconceived ideas aside and am open to the conversation taking place between the painting and myself and I am open to the dialogue that must and always has taken place. This, I find is the most magical part of the process.

There is a direct line between my painting and my photography. To me, the film its my canvas and light is the paint. I bring the same sensibilities to both. Paintings were a strong influence in the advent of photography in the 19th century and has inspired my own work. I work exclusively in black and white with my 4x5 field camera. This lack of technology in a digital world slows you, and makes you contemplate your subject, observe the light and compose the subject. I develop my film, and create contact prints. The palladium process is used for contact printing the photograph. It is an archival process and the photographs will not fade with time.