Artist's Statement

My works are deemed contemporary, but I strive to not be considered "academic" i.e. long on received knowledge and technical finesse, but short on imagination or emotion. Rather than subscribing to any particular art Movement, I prefer to succeed or flounder under my own sail. There can appear a cacophony of style and medium, but prevalent are Memoir pieces and color field studies - often collaged with appropriated or dimensional elements.

Cont...  This collage embellishment is a predictable absorption, considering the early influence of several years in university ceramics and interior design study. It arguably follows that any migration to painting/printmaking/photography would include an incontrovertible (and confessed) urge for "adding in" various textures, or dimensional elements.

A long professional business career has surely influenced my creative drive. Of note, these include the marketing position with an international textile mill serving New York's Couture, the founding of a successful stationery boutique in downtown San Francisco, and the startup of a national mail order business for same. Subsequently the creation of Brinker Ink, a manufacturing and distribution company, has been the longest run with 23 years of designing merchandise for the gift market. Teaching Art - in the schools, museum ED, and workshops - has been a preoccupation, and something I find hugely gratifying; a stimulate for all involved.

Meanwhile I am still wacky enough to believe creating Art should be not a suffering, but mightily Fun. When it develops into something visually enticing, the process is also thrilling. I'm most engaged by any "grand experiment" - the discovery of new methods and mediums is fascinating. Paramount, along with perfecting techniques is the joy of process and discovery. Along the way I've discovered Monotype.* I find it is hands-down the most riveting and empowering process I've tried, and once-in-while the most humbling. Indeed the most experimental, and next to lobbing paint from great distances, to date the most Fun.

However, I also happily confess -
I remain at the frontier of this investigation.

*What is a Monotype?

Paintings done on Plexi-glass, then pressed and printed onto French/Italian wet paper. Traditionally a first print (identified #1/2) is printed and then a ghost print (#2/2). See BEACH BABY above for example. During subsequent collage or image transfer, works often undergo additional color runs on the press before a one-of-a-kind "Monoprint" is created.

A History of Postal Infatuation

The pre-computer founding of my Stationery businesses eventuated all of the following: the importing of fine European and Japanese papers, a 1981 trip to China bringing back copious calligraphy supplies, classes in Graphology (Handwriting Analysis), and a significant antique inkwell collection. At the time, I felt these all conspired to further promote the art of "written correspondence."

Still like the moth to flame, I'm drawn to correspondence art and image. As per above, this had its start before the popular Griffin & Sabine (Nick Bantok) book series made fantasy postage nearly cliché. But I thank Mr. Bantock for pointing out: "text could function in equal partnership with image, rather than it's servant."

My oil paintings and photography works are often left untouched by this preoccupation, but Monotypes beg for it. Witness an unusual weakness for alphabets, and a fetish for handwriting (if you ever wrote me a note — I saved it). Collecting and appropriating international postage stamps is de rigueur, and I place messages in artworks via created postal cancellations. These are often added at the signature line as a Remark** or on the artwork's matt.

Frequently I add Polaroid transfers of photographic images to enhance this historical nuance.

**What is a "Remark?"

Often found near the artist's signature on Monoprint works, a small extra print or design, often used somewhat like a Chinese Chop mark.

While designing a souvenir gift line using vintage US postage stamps, I started fabricating "postal cancellations" for use as my alternate form of the "Remark."

Note to Potential Clients

The above combo of monotype and collage especially lends itself to Memoir pieces designed to your décor/colors/tastes. Please refer to sample work. Quotes vary widely depending on size, # of elements, etc.