The brush is a bridge from the mind’s creativity to the surface being worked on. Revisions, modifications, and discovering something new makes the work grow and mutate. This is true for all types of art, from the abstract to realism. Sometimes what I see coming to life in the painting takes me down a different creative road than I initially envisioned. Mystery creates interest – it’s exciting.

I am constantly schooling myself in the basic aspects of drawing so that I have a platform and means by which I can translate creativity into physical art. Einstein said that “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. However, the technical knowledge that supports one’s painting helps create the bridge for expressing my imagination.

Painting in a variety of genres has helped create a cross-fertilization of ideas and techniques. Abstract feeds representationalism and realism feeds impressionism. The experience of working in watercolor requires a different control of paint on an absorptive surface and requires more discipline than working with oils. They are different disciplines that allow one to express ideas and emotions in various ways.

I find that varying my subject matter feeds the desire to paint what I want to in the moment. Recently in Santa Fe, pursuing studies in the Eastern Classics Program at St. John’s College, I immersed myself in Chinese Art – creating pen and ink scrolls inspired by my study of the art, which included the customs and mores of Asian culture.