I paint to feel alive. Painting gives me a way to explore my creative process, observe and analyze the visual world with sensitivity, develop my imagination, and express concepts and feelings. I am interested in the relationship between visual ideas and images, and focus on personal expression and communication of ideas and emotions. Painting provides me with a kind of meditation that is both relaxing and stimulating. This quiet reflection helps me work through visual problems to possible solutions.

I paint images with varied levels of connectivity to realism, working in different forms, from representational to impressionism to abstraction. Within that parameter, I explore the relationships between connection and separation, similarity and difference, image and self. The subject matter of each painting guides my decisions about the medium and approach I use. I don’t limit myself to a single medium, style or approach. Sometimes, I use imagery to connect with written language. The connections between visual and verbal communication fascinates me. Expressing visual ideas often involves contemplating multiple solutions. I take inspiration from many sources. I love to travel and a breathtaking view can be my muse. I can be called to the canvas by the stimulation of music or the musky scent of mangoes. I am inspired by the beauty of nature. I can get lost in memories, dreams and reflections, and let them pull me into their mystery.                
I want to create paintings that have visual impact. In my art-making process, I use the elements and principles to organize my work, but contrast of value and intense color is where I start. I focus on how colors contrast and interact with each other and with the image itself. I explore various mediums of paint: acrylic, watercolor, oil pastel, sumi-e ink and even digital painting.  At times, I incorporate multi-media techniques to explore different effects. I work from direct observation of the world around me and adapt it into my personal interpretation to develop my ideas. I also use music to inspire and lead me along my creative process.

The process of painting itself gives me joy and purpose. I trust my intuition. I revisit memories that have personal significance for me. However, the meaning I get from my paintings may well be different from that of the viewer. I want others to interpret my paintings through their own filters and experiences. Maybe looking at a landscape will bring back memories of their own travels. Perhaps contemplating an abstract will lead their minds to a creative place where they can follow their ideas to new places. Enjoy!