Why am I a portrait artist? I am definitely compelled to paint people, perhaps to reveal their narratives from a
particular phase in their lives. It’s easier for me to be articulate about people through my portraits than with words.
I know that experientially connecting with my subjects is as important to me as the completed painting.
I am aware of my artistic growth. At first I painted what I saw, working off still video images that had a beautifully
soft, murky quality. When not so long ago my portraits struck me as ponderously mediocre I procrastinated for a
while, got pretty anxious, and eventually took charge. I bought an iMac, and manipulated photographs I took of my
subjects. I cropped out most of the body, focusing on faces; I simplified backgrounds; and I brightened my color
palette and flattened planes (see Galleries 1 through 3). This body of work was good. I knew it could be stronger.
Last spring when I was staring at my most recent pieces, a thought struck me: how much of a person could I take
away without losing one iota of who they are?
The three paintings you see on my home page are a product of that thought. They satisfy me on a number of levels.
Their scale (40 x 40”), cropping and grid lines — along with rhythmic, stylized planes of color — create a certain
abstraction that I have wanted to integrate with my portraiture for a long time. Although the rest of the face is
undeniably essential, the eyes are the true focal point of the painting. These paintings are intense and dramatic.
I really like them. I have worked hard to create pieces that are stylistically my own.
So again, why am I a portrait artist? Still not sure, but I do know I want to and need to continue to explore this way
of life. If anyone figures it out, write it down and let me know. Maybe I can paint a portrait of you.