2019

These two paintings were completed simultaneously in 2019 as an integral pair, designed to be shown alone or together.  The painting style incorporates a combination of numerous layers of color.  Each layer was applied with a technique that utilized a stirring stick rather than a brush.  A single layer consisting of one color was applied and allowed to dry thoroughly before proceeding with a new layer.  In this way, the layers were kept clearly separated and cleanly intersect where they meet.  Further, the use of a stick for application allowed the creation of very thin, continuous lines.  The results are paintings that are fully realized across the canvas.  As in many of the more recent works, the observer is not drawn to a predetermined thought but can move about the mind freely. The paintings were completed using semi-gloss, latex enamel house paint on primed canvas and each measure approximately 3 ft. by 4 ft.

This painting was recently completed in 2015. The painting represents a slight departure from all of the other paintings in this show in that it was completed by the Principal artist and his longtime friend and Seattle artist, Dan Smith, incorporating each artist’s individual style.

The painting represents an interesting perspective on an individual in the encompassing outdoor environment. The resulting imagery and consequent impression reflects an individual who may be lost in the snow.

The work was completed using semi-gloss latex house pain and artists oil colors.

This painting, the final work in the 2014 series, moved nearly completely away from the initial theme of providing no focal points. In fact, the painting is derived from personal reflection on winter experiences. The created scene is based on the sense derived from a nighttime presence on a mountain covered by snow overlain by the inky blackness of a clear sky. The paint is applied sparingly, uniformly balanced and in a linear construction. There are only two colors present; however, the sparing application of the paint results in the unprimed canvas becoming an important component of the work. While the lack of a non-focal point exists in this work, the presented scene creates, for the viewer as it does for the artist for many decades, an environment conducive to meditative thought. The work measures 6 ft. by 12 ft. and was completed using semi-gloss, latex enamel house paint applied on unprimed canvas.

This painting was completed during 1991 using a wide palette of studio-mixed colors. The overall presentation exhibits a strongly cool tone providing the observer with a calming sense during contemplation. The picture is nearly completely void of any focal points, an important element in the artist’s work. The few areas of warm coloration are observed peeking through the dense cool coloration revealing an introspective light and reality beyond. This painting measures 5 ft. by 8 ft. and was created using high-gloss, oil-based enamel house paint on primed canvas.

This painting was the fifth work completed during the 2014 series and generally maintained the basic theme in its final presentation. There are four colors applied, as before, but there is no cool color used so the overall feel is very warm and open. The lines are applied both thin and thickly resulting in a mottled appearance, complemented by a series of interconnected nodes of colors. While the near-term effect drifts toward the allowance of focal points, the final image remains uniform, enabling the viewer to remain undirected in their contemplations. The raw canvas is open for full view and creates a fixed plane of reference for the entire picture and provides significant vertical depth.  The painting measures 6 ft. by 12 ft. and was completed using semi-gloss, latex enamel house paint on unprimed canvas.

This painting was the third in the 2014 series of six works and continued to maintain the essential theme, that is, a very uniform presentation throughout. In this case, however, the work was completed using six colors, including two cool and two warm tones, along with white and black. The result is a full and deeply layered painting. There is no canvas visible in the work. The finish (top) color is black, used sparingly so as not to drive the mood of the observer, rather, it serves to create further depth and dimension. Varying from the other five works in this series, this painting is presented in portrait format using the strong vertical component to act as a window or mirror into the subconscious. The painting measures 12 ft. by 6 ft. wide and was completed using semi-gloss, latex enamel house paint on unprimed cotton canvas stretched over a wood frame.

This painting was completed during time spent in Hawaii in 2003. The work captures the color and broad imagery of the region using patterns that approximate tropical birds and foliage yet continue to enable abstract-based meditation. The painting was completed using acrylic artist paint applied to primed canvas. The painting measures 20 in. by 24 in.

This painting was the second painting completed in the 2014 series and represents the second phase of this series, essentially a mirror to the basic theme. Four colors are used including black and white. The finished mood is established through the application of thick bold black lines, shadowing nearly completely the white color beneath. However, the two complement tones, green and tan, are well exhibited, and the underlying canvas is clearly visible. The painting was completed using semi-gloss, latex enamel house paint on unprimed canvas and measures 6 ft. by 12 ft.

This painting is the fourth in a series of six new paintings completed during 2014. The painting measures 6 ft. by 12 ft. and was created using semi-gloss latex enamel house paint on unprimed 12 oz. canvas. In this painting, there were a total of six different colors used, balancing warm and cool tones, along with the white and black combination used in all of the 2014 series. The paint was applied thickly onto the surface allowing the lines to spread irregularly on the horizontal plane. This method resulted in diffuse lines throughout the painting, varying from the artist’s standard technique of applying clean, sharp lines. The overall tone is very warm and the extensive use of white as the final layer allows the painting to appear slightly iridescent. The principal goal of denying any focal point for the viewer is maintained throughout.

In this painting, the artist provides a rare focal point demonstration of color in a painting that represents a close-up detail of the interior wall of an orchid plant flower. The painting was completed in 1986 and involved a structured process that included combining eight same-sized segments within the canvas using different color combinations and geometries in each. The resulting composition appears very well balanced and exhibits great dimensional depth and physical texture. Interestingly, while the structure of the painting draws the viewer into its central theme, (the orchid), the color application provides significant opportunity for an observer to move into other contemplative considerations. The medium includes oil-based artist paint on primed canvas, measuring 24 in. by 30 in.