ABOUT THE ARTIST

I am an abstract artist employing reverse painting on clear acrylic panels as my media of expression for contemporary art.  My work is characterized by what I term “remnant abstraction”.  This term refers to the decomposition of traditional elements of line, shape and color.  I present to the viewer a form of impressionism into what existed in the recent past but which is now fading, rusting, degrading in a return to raw organic forms.  Within this time lapse, structure and form assume more randomness and spatiality.  Underlying complexity and new textures emerge creating a contrasting interplay.  My works are varied with some pieces retaining an untarnished and crispness of line and color while other pieces will have only the faint remnants of color and structure being left behind.  The capture of both time and the state of being comes through in the reflective nature of my paintings preserved within an acrylic panel.

Media

My work is reverse painted meaning the painting is on the back of an acrylic panel and viewed from the front through at least ¼” of acrylic.  The optical effect of light penetrating and refracted back to the viewer can produce interesting illusions of depth and space.  I apply acrylic paints and mediums in six to twelve individual translucent layers.  Iridescent effects are accentuated with pearlescent, metallic and interference pigment. 

Each layer is thoughtfully considered and measured as the first layer on the panel is the last layer, the opposite of traditional painting on canvas.  As a viewer, you can visualize this process by an example of superimposing a series of presentation transparencies (each with individual elements) that collectively comprise the final image.  During this process, I often use sgraffito methods to peal or reveal layers as well as dragging techniques to build up layered textures.  The finished work is mounted to a wood frame with a typical offset of 1 ½” to the wall.  No additional framing is required as the final piece appears as a slab of glass suspended from the wall.