About the Artist
The following is about my journey to become a visual artist, why I chose abstract art as my style of choice and what my work is about.
Becoming an abstract artist involved a lot of persistence for me. When I was in high school there were no art courses available, so in college I couldn’t compete with the accomplished young artists there who already had portfolios. Instead, I got a degree in Interior Design and practiced that for years. But while working, I was often taking college art courses, one or two at a time, for my goal towards an art degree. Sometimes I would get too busy with work and have to drop the courses. Being an artist was a longtime goal that was waylaid more than once but because it was important to me I persevered and eventually got my degree.
Even though I had many drawing/figure-drawing type courses in college, I always knew I wanted to be an abstract artist. I have a passion for that style and was lucky enough to be taught painting in the San Francisco Abstract Expressionist style. I also really enjoy the freedom that abstract painting allows me when creating and conveying concepts. It works well in getting across ideas that inspire me.
While I was taking art courses i was also educating myself by reading books, etc. on philosophy and spirituality. These subjects also fascinated me and have come to be an influence on my work.
We are creating a new world every day, individually and collectively. We each contribute to that new world whether it be good or bad. If we dwell on negativity on a daily basis, our world will be filled with that type of negativity, and that is the world we will experience.
What we see around us is the present and to change that we have to envision the world we would like to see, not what is before us. It’s a challenge to think this way, and a new concept to master, but many people are moving towards a new and better world because of it. As Voltaire said, ‘Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.’ We all need to remember to move out of our stress and strife and into a world where we are growing and winning. As an artist I would like my contribution to be one of positive inspiration. And that is what my work is about.