Childhood Memories Series
I am interested in exploring popular U.S. cultural stereotypes, icons and the exploitation of the general public by the mass media. I am especially disturbed by the perpetuating myth of the “All American Family” in their perfect home, surrounded by a white picket fence and a steamy hot apple pie cooling on the window sill. Our spouse is magnanimous and our three children are obedient and respectful and have lettered on the high school sports team.
Lies, lies, and more lies. It’s not only advertisers who shame us and make us feel guilty if we don’t fit the stereotypical family, it happens in grade school, in our place of worship, at work, and in the government. I believe we have become a culture of hypocrisy where “image” is more important than the truth.
“Childhood Memories” is the story of my life. It is my attempt to make order out of chaos in my world and has been a poignant theme in my work for over 25 years.
At first glance the imagery appears fun and whimsical. Colors are bright and the mood is cheery. However, upon closer observation a more disturbing reality begins to become evident. Underlying issues of abuse, rape, incest, and abandonment begin to immerge from one painting to the next.
A big influence in my life and art has been the surrealist movement. The works of Giorgio de Chirico, René Magritte, and Salvador Dalí have been pivotal.
Process/Technique: I try to pay particular attention to my inner voice, feelings and dreams and then record them daily in my sketch book. Sometime I draw these as pictures, other times as written text. Then at some later date I use these sketch book pages as springboards for composing a new painting. I may rough in some ideas, but generally I work directly on the canvas from out of my head, paying particular attention to my inner voice as I go and allowing the painting to develop before me. This special moment is what I call "In the Groove". It's nice when it happens because the painting flows effortlessly out from me. In addition, I love the process of oil painting; the mixing of the colors.