Process

My Process

My work is a continuing exploration of painting and carving techniques done by cutting into layers of paint on wood panels using wood carving tools to create texture and pattern.

In the past I have combined my painted and carved wood panels with unpainted wood boards, creating a contrast of painted and unpainted surfaces. In my current work, the paintings are not combined with plain wood. Contrast is created by solid colors with carved patterns emerging from underneath the layers of paint. The carved patterns sometimes reveal the wood underneath. Natural wood frames are occasionally used to surround the painting

My new series of paper pieces use the cuttings from the panel pieces. These are collaged onto painted watercolor paper. This completes the cycle of a reductive and additive form of painting, perhaps as a metaphor for interior and exterior opposites.

This process of painting exploration continues to be very exciting to me. All the work is done by hand; no mechanical tools are used. Paint is applied with brush and palette knife. I implement a variety of cutting techniques in my carved paintings.