My painting surfaces continue to be textural and gritty, featuring layered colors. Oil and, sometimes, cold wax on stretched linen or canvas have been my preferred mediums but I enjoy experimenting. I have begun working with textiles not commonly used for oil-painting, such as cheese cloth, sack cloth, burlap, etc. My techniques have included collage and applique as well as layering of oil paint and fabric to create textural effects. My practice has grown to include such items as rigid panels, printing tools and acrylic paint. In December I attended a residency program offered by Theresa Girard (Rhode Island and Florida) at the Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA), New Smyrna Beach, Florida. While there, I produced a group of eleven small paintings on handcrafted squares of household and garment linens. I am presently working on a third generation of these small works to exhibit in the South Coast Artists’ Tour in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
Collage Study 1 for “Pavers”
(written in 2015) Two years ago I went on hiatus from art classes, workshops and shows in order to paint unencumbered by syllabi, deadlines, or exhibit themes. I worked mostly alone, sometimes with mentors and, twice, in-residence with a small group of abstract painters. Over a two-year period I produced few paintings, but many studies and experimental works. The lessons learned then have become part of my discipline as my painting vocabulary continues to evolve. Presently, I work in an abstract style that combines structured composition with intuitive mark-making.
Collage Study 2 for “Pavers”
Here, two studies for Pavers contain elements used in the larger painting that emulate the textures of a well-traveled crosswalk in Providence, RI. I am fascinated by the visual cues of how everyday things are made and used. Paint spills, patinas and builders’ marks all have found their way into my work in some way or another. Pavers is part of my current Roadshow series.
“Pavers”