Beyond Appearances
I use thin transparent oil glazes slowly built up over time to achieve a smooth semi-gloss appearance, reminiscent of the Dutch Baroque paintings of the 17th century. This traditional process, adapted to take advantage of contemporary mediums, allows me to create paintings with a unique depth and a smooth surface devoid of brushstrokes.
I paint conceptual portraits. The faces are not meant to be representative of the sitter, but suggestive of a pervasive psychological state, be it neutral or provoked.
There are two groups of paintings in this exhibition. The first attempts a neutral facial expression. While the notion of a neutral perception, in works of art or in life, may be improbable or perhaps impossible, I contend that the viewer's projection plays a big part in the assumptions made about a given painting.
The latest series presents an adverse facial expression. Each face displays extreme fear along with brightly colored geometric shapes. The abstract quality to the "shapes" questions the reality of the face as it appears within these paintings. Are the shapes a reconciliation of the scream or the provocation for it?
