A Dive into the Past

What was it Thinking? Trying to absorb the repercussions of the pandemic, social upheaval and loss of full-time employment became an unwelcome challenge to my sanity. Woe is Me? Not quite. I decided to take a step back and dig a little deeper and to draw more upon personal experience, mainly with nature and locally since being around people until recently did not seem a viable choice and besides just about every place where humans gathered from shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums was closed during that period. More time then, as well as now became available to observe and explore the fauna, wildlife, and landscapes near where I currently live (Rock Creek Park) and where up until recently I use to live (just outside of Middleburg, Va.). The observations were especially enlightening since I was able to observe animal behavior in their natural environment and removed from human constrains. All of this led me towards a new direction: Anthropomorphism and encounters with the natural world. Throughout the paintings, mountains, waterways, and forests are populated by bipedal beings that resemble clothespins along with wildlife that I have encountered over the past two and a half years. With the creatures of the woodlands taking center stage, their silhouette portrayal along with a sun-drenched pointillistic background provides an environment where they engage in a variety of not so everyday activities. Also included are elements of mystery, spirituality, and intrigue. By tapping into these new resources, my narrative expanded and yet remained consistent with the focus of my previous work which is creating art that embraces conflict, dreams and humor.