Expansion
During walks in the park, I notice small flags placed among the grass and pebbles; the colorful markers point to the location of water or indicate protection for new growth. During walks in the city I stop to photograph piles of boxes left at the curb or rubbish from demolition inside a retail space. The unexpected nature of these discoveries serves as the impetus to begin a new painting.
Each new painting must have its own presence by defining space in an abstract way. When I move the brush with a steady hand, I slow down to consider every color and edge carefully. I am happy when accidental imperfections of shape suddenly let the ground snap into focus. The dynamic experience echoes my discoveries in the field.
As in life, small habits or large structures can provide a fluid framework for experimentation and deepening awareness. I think of each marker or pile of debris as the chance evocation of an individual life. By developing a particular incident and maintaining an ambiguous relation to the field, I can keep the painting alive and let it breathe. I want my paintings to function like the colorful markers or cardboard remnants of renovation – as indicators of change and expansion.