Recent Works
2016 - 2019
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Just Breathe Series
“Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.” ― Munia Khan
In this newest series entitled 'Just Breath', I am using my own uniquely formulated process to distinctly layer watercolors for greater texture and depth. This new application gives me the ability to add many more layers of light atop dark watercolor paints, augmenting a moodiness to my Recycled Tree-scapes.
All works from the Just Breath Series are finished with two coats of archival satin varnish, creating a contemporary but natural look. The edges are either painted charcoal or left natural and finished with varnish as well and often displaying drips of paint from the process.
The overall result is an aesthetically alluring painting with a hidden message about protecting our forests. All works are Ready-to-Hang.
* Commissioned pieces using your color and size requests are available.
Splintered Wisdom Series
"Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people". -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
I like to think of my job as an Artist to be that of turning the ugly into something beautiful and contribute to the well being of my community and the planet.
The Splintered Wisdom series is a creation of watercolor treescapes enhanced by collaged bits of recycled images and paper litter, further detailed with graphite and color pencils. I have adopted a section of a scenic highway in California to pick up all the trash left behind by tourists and residents which I use to add dimension and texture to my work. Instilled in every piece is a gentle reminder that if we do not clean up after ourselves trees will not grow from our trash in the future.
All works from the Splintered Wisdom Series are finished with two coats of archival satin varnish, creating a contemporary but natural look. The edges are finished with varnish as well, but left natural and often display drips of paint from the process.
The overall result is an aesthetically alluring painting with a hidden message about protecting our forests. All works are Ready-to-Hang.
* Commissioned pieces using your color and size requests are available.
Indigenous Transparency Series
Indigenous people, animals and plants are all striving to not become extinct in a world where the politics that govern ourselves and the planet become less and less transparent.
I look to nature for guidance and a sense of well being.
The basic process for works in this series begins with a photograph I take of birds that live in the forests and reservoirs in my area. To this is added transparent watercolor backgrounds and detail work with graphite and color pencils. Applying stenciled patterns with rollers and lace adds interest and an abstract dimension. The rich texture of the trees, as with the Splintered Wisdom Series, are created with collaged bits of images of bark and litter that I clean up off of scenic highways. This serves as a gentle reminder that if we do not stop trashing the planet, trees and wildlife will not grow from our garbage in the future.
This series synthesizes many of my favorite techniques and applications I have picked up as an Artist from drawing realism to lose watercolor painting and beyond.
These works are mounted on wood panels and finished with two coats of archival satin varnish. This natural, yet contemporary presentation requires no glass or framing. All works are Ready-to-Hang.
The Tree Chronicles
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” --Desmond Tutu
My commitment as an Artist is to bring hope and beauty into the world. As I cleaned up the litter on my adopted section of a California scenic highway, amid the food wrappers and alcohol containers, I came across a section of the San Francisco Chronicle. An interesting idea came to mind, to turn newspaper back into trees again.
Would this be reverse recycling? Hence, 'The Tree Chronicles' series was born.
Slender, solid lines of re-used newsprint trees contrast an abstract watercolor background Each piece offers a gentle reminder that if we do not stop trashing the planet, trees will not grow from our garbage in the future. The overall result is an aesthetically alluring composition with a hidden message about protecting our forests.
Protected with two coats of archival varnish, this contemporary piece requires no framing.
Portraits
There is no way for me to verbalize how Escobar's music moves me or how Malala's story instilled me with courage, and how Robin Williams made me laugh... and cry. Drawing people is the best way I know to pay tribute. I work to catch the intensity, concentration or joy in the faces I draw. Finding geometric shapes in everything is essential to my study of natural things. Art, music, books and people that inspire me, easily flow and project into my work.
These portraits were created primarily with graphite pencils and watercolors on art paper, mounted on a wood panel. I finish each piece with two coats of archival satin varnish providing permanence and a contemporary style that is ready to hang. No glass or glare separates you from the image.
*Commissioned Portraits Available.