ARTIST STATEMENT
Capturing the spirit and emotion of the animal or pet in a drawing is what my animal art and pet portraits are all about. I look into the eyes trying to figure the animals inner soul. What are our pets telling us?
For me the eyes tell it all. This distinguishes my art and pet portraits from others. I capture the essence and character of the animal or pet through the eyes. Every pair of eyes tells a story and my job, as an animal artist is to look beyond and find the heart and soul of each pet or animal.
Like many artists, it took a tragic event to spark my true creativity. This occurred in the summer of 2001 when my sister died. Having difficulties drawing human figures I turned my focus to my dogs, who gave me the unconditional love that I needed at the time. My three salukis became my inspiration as they still are. I had and continue to spend hours watching their antics. With the death of my sister I also inherited 2 cats. Not having been a cat lover, I quickly changed and learned the differences between canines and felines.
My motto is less can be more. Let the observer visualize their interpretation, thereby creating the image and story. I use many styles to accomplish this whether it is realism or abstraction.
My artistic goals have been to experiment in the types of animals and pets I draw. I like to challenge myself by drawing a new breed of dog or cat to see if I can capture their spirit. The same goes drawing horses, wildlife and birds. At this point in my career soft pastel is the best way I can convey the essence of a pet or animal although I incorporate other mediums into my drawings and pet portraits.
In 2006 I began creating Monotypes. Monotypes are a form of printmaking whereby an original inked or painted image is transferred from a plate onto paper. Each print is a unique work and is not repeated. This medium enabled my artistic expression to become more fluid and loose. By employing brighter colors in these works I have also added a new dimension to my art.