Artist's Statement

I do art partly for my own therapy because my unconscious mind is insisting that I try to capture that which cannot be interpreted by the brain onto wood or canvas. Each piece starts out with a frantic little sketch that is burned into my minds view (the third eye).

For all the art that I do, I cannot say any of it has been done with a preconceived notion. I do not trust my brain to make wise decisions - only my mind...the unconscious. My brain ruins everything...says the wrong things, makes the wrong decisions, makes the wrong interpretations. My mind (as all humans) is connected to something greater and more intelligent.

My brain is jealous of my mind. My brain tries to create the same pure, intelligent scenario on canvas as my unconscious mind but it cannot. So I do not paint portraits or anything else which our brains interpret in this reality - they bore my mind to tears.

I do have a portfolio of life drawings and reality drawings somewhere in my brother's house in West Virginia. The Maryland Institute, College of Art taught me realism but mostly creative, intelligent art. The The School of the Art Institute of Chicago gave me that raw, direct edge, I think. Sometimes there's a little folk in my art from my West Virginia upbringing. London taught me subtle humor and a little sophistication, though I would have done well to live there a little longer.

I think the unconscious mind and the brain are much like oil and water - existing in the same reality but their physical properties incompatible.

I struggle to understand that which cannot be understood.