Breaking free from old bonds and going toward a new personal style.

My watercolors have always sold well, but recently I have decided to move away a bit from my watercolor paintings. I had my own unique handling of the medium, but it was time for a change. But where does a new way of creating art come from? If I choose to paint in an abstract way I truly believe it must come from within, not from a starting point previously explored by others.

Let me explain that I am a good realist. However, my abstract work starts from a different place, a different perspective.

My new style has been helped along by a series of serendipitous events. First, years ago I met Delores Fortuna in Oak Park, Illinois. She is a wonderful potter who had a studio 3 blocks from our house. I took many classes from her. Loved clay and even better, porcelain clay. I liked the whole process from wedging the clay, to throwing the forms to glazing the bisque fired pieces.

When my wife and I moved to Virginia. I found a used kiln and wheel down here and did some pottery. At the same time I was doing a lot of painting in watercolor, acrylic and oil. I still paint in acrylic and oil.

My problem with painting with glazes is that, by their nature the colors change dramatically when fired and cover up the textures of the forms of the clay. When I paint, I like to see the work emerge with each stroke of the brush and I like to see the textures of the clay as sharply defined as when they are created. I like to see the work of my hands uniquely impressed into the work.

Then a perspective shift. Why must a painting be flat? Does fired ceramic always need to be covered with glaze? I love ceramics, I love painting I will make them belong together like no one has before.

I hope you enjoy all my paintings. I paint now in watercolor, acrylic and I also paint with acrylic on porcelain.