Considering the Character of My Work
What gives my abstract paintings their character? Beyond subject matter, composition, and technique, what is it that allows us to feel something when we encounter a work of art?
When I consider the character of my abstract paintings, a few qualities consistently emerge: playfulness, optimism, generosity, and a celebration of creation. These are not themes I set out to illustrate. They are qualities that find their way into the work through my intuitive process, my love of color, and the expressive marks I make.
My mixed media painting Deconstructed (2023), measuring 51 × 38 inches, offers a wonderful example of how these qualities come together.
The Freedom to Play in my Abstract Paintings
I paint from imagination, without photographic references or a predetermined image. I develop each of my abstract paintings through observation and response. One decision leads to another, and unexpected discoveries become opportunities.
In Deconstructed, oversized rounded forms suggest blossoms or clusters of flowers, yet none is confined to a recognizable botanical identity. Sweeping gestures travel across the surface. Turquoise circles, geometric fragments, and delicate floral drawings appear among richly layered passages of color.
There is a wonderful freedom in allowing these different elements to coexist.
Playfulness is not the absence of thoughtful decisions. It is the willingness to explore, to experiment, and to trust that something worthwhile can emerge from the unexpected.
I love that a painting can be sophisticated and playful at the same time.
Optimism Through Color and Light
Color is one of my greatest gifts as a painter, and light is central to how I use it.
I am fascinated by the relationships that allow colors to appear illuminated from within. Warm and cool variations, transparent and opaque passages, and richly colored darks work together to create luminosity.
In Deconstructed, brilliant greens, turquoise, yellow, and orange emerge from deep areas of blue, violet, and green. Sweeping pale marks bring movement and brightness to the composition, while the surrounding rose-colored field contributes warmth.
The darks are as important as the brilliant colors. They give the light its strength. Complexity does not prevent beauty, and darkness does not prevent light.
Optimism in my abstract paintings is not a picture of happiness. It is something I hope the viewer can experience through color, movement, and the relationships within the work.
A Celebration of Creation
Flowers frequently appear in my abstract paintings, although I rarely set out to paint them.
Their abundance, variety, and seemingly endless combinations of color and form delight me.
I see creation as an extraordinary gift, full of possibilities for discovery.
My faith influences how I experience this abundance. There is wonder in the smallest details and generosity in the beauty that surrounds us.
Painting provides an opportunity to respond to that beauty through my own imagination.
The accumulated marks, shifting colors, and unexpected discoveries become part of this celebration.
The Gift of an Uplifting Experience
I want my paintings to bring something meaningful into the spaces where people live and gather.
At a distance, Deconstructed offers an atmosphere of warm color, luminous passages, and expressive movement. As viewers approach, smaller details become apparent: delicate drawings, unexpected color combinations, circles, fragments, and traces of earlier marks.
There is more to discover than a first glance can reveal.
That experience matters to me. I want viewers to enjoy the larger visual presence of a painting and also find intimate moments of discovery within it.
The energy in my paintings is not intended to overwhelm. Through relationships of color, form, and movement, that energy can become harmonious, even peaceful.
A painting can be exuberant without being chaotic. It can be complex while offering a sense of wholeness.
I believe this is one of the ways art can lift our spirits. It engages our curiosity, invites delight, and reminds us of the beauty that can emerge from an abundance of possibilities.
The Hand of the Artist ~ Connection and Legacy
I leave traces of my painting’s journey because they are part of its unique character. These marks invite viewers to make their own discoveries.
I love imagining someone pointing out a favorite detail to another person. A moment that began in my studio becomes a shared experience, creating opportunities for delight, conversation, and human connection.
I see a parallel between these individual marks and our own uniqueness. Each of us contributes something distinctive that adds beauty and interest to our surroundings and to the lives of others.
In this way, art is both a present experience and a legacy. The connection happens now, but the painting carries the potential forward, inviting new discoveries, conversations, and shared experiences for generations to come.
What I Hope to Share in My Abstract Paintings
The character of my work reflects my character.
Playfulness gives me the freedom to explore. Optimism encourages me to find possibilities within complexity. My appreciation for creation inspires the abundance of color and marks that fill my canvases and the desire to share all of this with others.
Through my paintings, I hope to share something of the wonder, optimism, and generosity I experience in life.
“I share love, sometimes with paint.“
