My new show is “Faith , Family and Friends.” I started with faith because it is a very important part of my life. Not second to that, but equally important are my family and friends.
I had the idea to do this series when I was going through a box of old black and white photos of my family. Many were my older relatives, some whom I have never known. They each have indirectly shaped me as a person and as an artist, so I wanted to honor them by painting some of my favorite images.
I have a love of the outdoors, and each image I chose included people interacting outside with others or animals.
Today in this fast-paced, anxiety filled world most people spend so much of their time glued to their phones or computers, I think I am longing for the times I remember growing up . Back then family and friends got together often and connected in real time. Unconsciously, I chose images that show human connection and the enjoyment of being outside in the fresh air.
The artists that have most influenced my work are Matisse and Marc Chagall, but most recently as I have been working more in egg tempera, I have been influenced by the work of Robert Vickery and Andrew Wyeth. I admire all of them for their use of figures and the sense of narrative in their work. Matisse and Chagall have influenced my color palette, in the use vivid color. Occasionally I try to tone down the colors in my work , but inevitably it returns and I am embracing it.