Creativity at work.

I have taken my life long knowledge of visual communications and used it to explore ideas and concepts in various ways.

It may be best to know my influences to get a sense of how I approach my art. There are a great many. Musicians, nature, other artists, designers, and just everyday Americans. However, there is no more significant influence than the treasures of the twentieth century. This was a time for our nation to show it could be the leader of the free world. In a lot of cases, it had succeeded. But, of course, it all depends on how you measure that success.

Although I employ a variety of styles in my art, it begins with an idea or concept. The idea is more important than the style or medium. I use tangible and non-tangible representations from the twentieth century as a backdrop to visually craft an idea for the current events of our time.

Not all the work is represented in this manner. Sometimes I just enjoy looking back and romanticizing an era before the all-things-at-my-fingertips technology. It is not a case of slowing things down, as if technology and its exponential innovation are overwhelming. Instead, it is a way to appreciate just how far we have come since.

My methods and processes are simple. First, I sketch out my ideas, then decide the medium that suits it best. My primary choice is traditional printmaking, utilizing the screen print method. These prints are usually limited to minimal quantities because I will create each print by hand on a one-color press. Then it may be slightly hand-painted to give each print its own unique signature. No two prints will be alike.

I will also do digital painting periodically. The technology has gotten infinitely better for composing digital work. However, I like to begin my paintings in traditional media such as watercolors, pencils, and inks to create a rough. At times this will almost appear to be a finished work. The texture and depth I look for can only be achieved this way. The image is then scanned so that the work can continue using digital painting tools.

So, if I had to do a 30-second elevator explanation of my work, it would simply be, “I am a contemporary artist trying to find his way.”