As an artist, my self-expression manifests through the art-forms of photography and mixed media collage, working differently within each medium.

When I photograph, I choose the elements that I wish to freeze in time. I respond to a whole, which can be seen within the camera’s viewfinder. It is a conscious decision to arrange or capture natural lines, graphically appealing patterns, or the particular interplay of texture, light and shadow. I search for aesthetic possibilities in areas that the eye often overlooks. These may be found in the random placement of objects, in a pile of discarded junk, or on pieces of building facades that have been cast away in demolition. In the darkroom, the composition may be altered or other changes made. 

This process is inverted in my collage work. Instead of a whole, I start with two or three

 components, proceeding to manipulate   them  until an interesting unity begins to  evolve.   Creating something visually exciting from unrelated preexisting objects, each with its own texture and dimensionality, is the challenge. Torn papers, scraps of metal, transferred images, layered paints, pieces of nature and bits of watercolor may all be used until each piece finds its own unique harmony. The subconscious gently guides while the eye and hand freely play. 

Although the works are often abstract or seemingly without a subject, they may still reflect emotional states, suggest the passage of time, hint at landscape or even trigger the recall of forgotten dreams or memories. The process is not predefined but open and serendipitous.  The element of surprise is always energizing and joyful, even if it takes months to find the one last element or the final few brushstrokes necessary to render a piece finished.