Recent Works Video

Tulum

Most of my work is begun with nothing but a vague idea or image in mind. This piece was a little different. It was in response to a trip I made to the Yucatan. There I visited the ruins at Tulum. I was struck by the ancient ornamentation and eroded textures still visible on those stone structures. Every once in awhile I could discern remnants of colors on what were once vibrantly painted surfaces. This piece is an attempt to capture a feeling rather than a representative depiction of the ruins.

I haven't yet determined how to refer to my work. They are not really paintings and they are not sculptures, but more of a hybrid or blend between the two. In most cases the colored surfaces are a result of mixing dry pigment with the cement before it is applied to the support. Cement, by its nature, is dimensional and lends a bas-relief element to my compositions. My concern with surface leads me to contrast rough textured elements against highly polished smooth areas. These attributes are usually associated with sculpture. So you tell me. What do I call this stuff?

Tulum '09 29"x 36" polished cement & dry pigment on panel

First Time

Shockabookoo '08 36"x 49" polished cement & dry pigment on panel

I am not sure of my motivation to start a blog. I think that the appeal to me, is that of clarification... an online diary that keeps track of the process of making art. Something that I can look back on to review and remember how I got from here to there. In my experience, I have found that the mere process of organizing and writing down my thoughts leads to increased comprehension and clarity.

I am working with various types of cement mixed with dry pigments and applied mainly to Hardi-board panels. I have purposely chosen to work with nontraditional material in order to facilitate my desire to break away from my previous methods and habits. I know that it is next to impossible to create totally unique imagery, but it is my goal to come as close as I can. I try and let the medium, by its own properties, determine much of the look and feel of the work. Cement is a very flexible medium, it can be poured, molded, stained and even polished to a high gloss. I am free to experiment and learn what the medium has to teach me. If the work begins to feel familiar, I change direction. I am aware of no precedents that would be of undue influence to the development of the work. It is exciting and fresh to venture into uncharted waters where right and wrong do not exist.