the meaning of the paintings

Each painting is a collaboration with a multitude of contributors. For example, my eye sees one thing, and my mind interprets what the eye sees in a completely different way. Then the hand takes over and constructs, or deconstructs, the thing in it's own way. And the result becomes something entirely unique and different from the original subject. All the different body parts work with each other and against each other to create the final product.

Then someone looks at the finished painting and changes its meaning once again. I thought I knew what the painting meant. But when I hear someone else put their own words and thoughts and meanings into it, I think to myself 'yes, thats what it means'. And its all so different from what I thought I intended.

The painting is allowed to continue to evolve without my hand or mind or eye coming in contact with it at all.

May at the studio

" the earth laughs in flowers." - e.e. cummings



Life has been creatively chaotic here at the studio this Spring.

Lucky Bamboo is a large (65" tall x 36" wide) encaustic painting. There is deeply-carved text rising from the bottom edge of the painting, imitating young bamboo growing from the ground. Here's what it says:

"The normal habitat of dracaena sanderiana is the floor
of a tropical rain forest. It is used to getting very little light.
But it likes its feet wet.
Lucky bamboo actually grows straight
and does not grow curly or wavy at all.
Farmers have to lay them on a huge long slanted table
in the hot house, covering three sides in darkness,
one side exposed to bright light.
It takes an average of one to one and one-half years
to make a single 360-degree curl.
After many dark damp days of winter, the sun appears.
Spinning magnetically to the light, her face turns toward the warmth
taking the body with it.
When we change a thing, it in turn changes us."

Standing Tulip, (70" tall x 36" wide) is another large encaustic panel. This piece took about 4-weeks to complete, continually constructing, then deconstructing the form. There are at least 16 layers of wax...and multiple layers of oil paint glazes.


Tulip Canvas (70" tall x 63" wide) is a work-in-progress. This piece is oil and charcoal on canvas. The canvas is stapled directly to my studio wall. I don't plan to take the level of finish too much farther, and I'm currently experimenting with some mixes of cold wax to rub into the surface for added depth as well as protection.

I hope you enjoy our beautiful late-Spring.