In many of my paintings, I am abstracting from photographs and reality.

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The first set of images shown here is called Into The Fog. I took this photograph in Michigan while returning from Canada. The second set is of a sunset I took during a cold winter evening on the way home. It is called Winter Sunset.

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​Abstracting from mental images and emotions.

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Many times I have a vision of how the painting should be either from experiences that I have had in my life, or how I perceive something to be on an abstract visual level. The image on the left is called Irreversible Damage. My father-in-law was shot in a fast food restaurant bathroom in 2003. He was shot in the chest and the stomach. He laid in the hospital for two months, but did not survive. The texture and colors of the piece represent his bullet wounds and injuries.  So this painting is sort of a purging of the emotions that i felt during and following that time.

 

The one on the lower right is called OWNWEOW, or Old Wars, New Wars, the End of War. It is the largest piece I have worked on to date, 48" x 60". What I tried to capture in an abstract form, was the feeling of conflict and war. My specific focus was the Vietnam war to the wars in the middle east. ​ Since this was painted for a show that was inspired by music, my constant playlist while I painted was The Doors' The End, and Nine Inch Nails' A Warm Place and Song 12 off of Ghosts II.

 

Abstract Collaborations.

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I think one of the most difficult things to accomplish with abstract art is a successful collaboration. One of my favorite artists to collaborate with is definitely known for his collabs. The last two photos on the left are two paintings I did with Michael Bush. The last one, Soylent Green is definitely my favorite.

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The painting on the right, Meow, was a collaboration with a cat. My friend's cat decided to walk across the board with wet paint. I definitely had a lot of fun with this painting. The flowers were inspired by Henri Mattisse, one of my favorite classic artists.

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The last painting on the right, Moons Over Jupiter, is one from Amy Hooton, a watercolourist from Edinburg, Scottland. She painted the upper left diagonal, and I painted the lower right.