Artist Statement

When I begin a painting, I have no preconceived image in mind. I simply put pencil to paper, beginning with the nose and then the eyes. I don't measure or follow a set pattern. As the lines develop, a face gradually emerges, taking on a personality of its own. Each face is a discovery, something that didn't exist until I began drawing

Once the pencil drawing is complete, I begin with washes of watercolor, gradually building layers of paint and introducing richer colors. I often incorporate gouache for its depth, opacity, and intensity. Finally, using small brushes, I add the intricate details that give each face its individual character

The eyes are especially important in my work. they may be exaggerated, uneven, mysterious, or playful.  They often seem to express something I hadn't anticipated when I first began drawing.

My Faces collection is not about creating traditional portraits or capturing a physical likeness.  It is about allowing something unexpected to emerge through line, color, and imagination.

I never know exactly who will appear on the paper.  That uncertainty is part of what keeps me painting