I am continually challenged by my desire for simplicity in my work. For me, a sense of balance within a picture is crucial. Dark and light, sweeping vistas that surround a knot of trees, a woman's body moments before motion - these images of captured motion intrigue me as an artist. Patterns, movements and abstract shapes stand out and become a point of departure.
Often I return to a familiar landscape. By using places and forms whose contours are familiar, I feel less inhibited. During these times I am able to turn off my mind and move beyond constructing the composition of a painting to a state where my emotions are free to influence my work. One such site is Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. It has become a place of inspiration to me. I make yearly trips there for one or two weeks at a time for concentrated and uninterrupted painting.
I don't approach a painting with a preconceived idea. I place myself in front of my inspirations, trying not to judge my work in progress, telling myself that I am painting for the first time each time. There is a lot of experimentation and trial and error. I hope my paintings impart my emotional reactions to the visual world.