All of my work is either a Prayer For Peace and/or a Prayer For the Earth. I begin by drawing a grid of half inch squares in light pencil all over the canvas or sheet of paper. I then proceed to fill in each square one at a time.
In the paintings there are many layers that need to dry in between as I work in oil paint to create the depth and variation I like, and the texture. The drawings are inspired by and pay tribute to anonymous artisans, usually women and children, who have worked for centuries, and continue to work laboriously, creating fabrics and textiles to clothe, decorate and bring warmth and beauty to everyday life, frequently under horrific working conditions. I frequently these pieces after the names of the pencils I’ve used.
I like the quiet while I work. I liken my process to my daily tai chi practice. The form is set and my task is to simply pay attention and mindfully go through the slow moving dance, learn from and absorb the form, to embrace the "chi" created, and then, finally, to let it go, without attachment.
