ABOUT THE WORK

DRAWING

“…drawing, for me, is the beginning of everything.”   Ellsworth Kelly

Drawing helps me better understand the patterns, textures, shapes and structures found all around us. It is a way for me to slowly discover internal and external forms or to work quickly to simply record an impression. The results can either be my interpretation of what is being observed or used as a point of departure to explore, modify, combine, interpret what is seen. Whether it is a finished product or used as a reference source for making paintings or sculptures, drawing acts as the underlying support structure upon which my art works are planned and made.

PAINTING

My working method for creating paintings combines abstraction with elements found in nature. It seems to me that art in its essence is the merging of the natural world with its less obvious underlying abstract forms in order to produce something unique. It is this process, which continues to intrigue, inspire and confound me, that keeps me working.

SCULPTING

The sculptures begin with sketches, drawings and photographs. These images are used to guide the process as a sculpture is being created.

Larger sculptures require detailed design and engineering drawings as well as maquettes or scale models. Many of my large works are best suited to a fabrication process which involves cutting sheet metal into various shapes, then bending, rolling, curving these shapes and welding and/or bolting the pieces together. Due to the equipment and skills required, my larger sculptures are usually subcontracted to professional art fabricators. As the work progresses my job is to oversee the process and make design adjustments as required.

Intermediate size works are made using a wide variety of materials. Each work determines the type of materials used and the methods used to create the sculpture. While the finished piece will have elements of the original inspiration for the work, the finished sculpture is not intended to be a precise copy of the design drawings. Intuition and spontaneity are as much a part of the process as are sketches and drawings.

Smaller works are made in a variety of ways. An original is sculpted using clay, plaster, concrete, wood or plastic. Many of these works are then cast in metal in limited editions by a fine art foundry. In addition to having works cast at a foundry, scanning and 3D printing services are also used to make smaller sculptures. The 3D works can be finished pieces on their own, used as patterns for metal casting, or serve as maquettes or scale models in the production of larger sculptures.