Healing Begins, 2019 Oil on Canvas

This body of work engages with issues around depression and addiction in families.

What appears as a group of aesthetically pleasing abstractions, on closer inspection, is a visceral compilation of 15 canvases. It is a self-portrait and a metaphor of someone closely dealing with these issues.

The projection, dancing across the surface, creates another tension by representing the future. The work proposes a space for healing and the past is an avenue for learning and growing. The paintings become archaeological artifacts of the past projected over possible futures moving forward.

The Dream, 2018 Text & Oil on Canvas

Recurring dream of two people on beach watching the middle figure - a broken tree.

I use text in my work by printing the canvas first and then apply the paint over it.

Reaching Bottom, 2018, Text & Oil on Canvas

The heavy paint was applied with a pallet knife. The paint is dissolving at the bottom to make the painting appear unresolved.

Child, 2018, Oil on Canvas

This is the first of five canvases in this series.

Child starts with a swirl of light color applied with pallet knife and either grows or dissolves into a darker hole -- constantly changing like most children.

Son, 2018 Oil on Canvas

Son is just a bit more ominous; colors are growing darker and one word of text across the middle "Sad". The items on the top of each canvas were used to mark or "paint" the canvas along with paper towels, wood pieces and fingers.

This third canvas, Brother, is another swirl growing darker yet. The titles depicting the impact one person has on a family and the many titles they can hold. The one word across the center is "scared". The strings and wood pieces on top of the canvas were used for mark making.

Brother, 2018 Oil on Canvas

Father, 2018, Oil on Canvas

Father is the fourth canvas in this series. This piece was finished with the plastic wrap that was left on my pallet to keep the paints fresh during this process. Father is loosing his family, his son and most of his friends. The word across the canvas is "Loss"

Spouse, 2018, Oil on Raw Canvas

Finally, the last in this series, Spouse. Another title. This canvas was painted raw and when stretched, it is slightly skewed and still remained fragile - much like the person involved. The one word sprawled across the canvas is "Hope".

These two canvases are 54" X 70" and each hang from the ceiling. On the back of one canvas is a full circle and the other is a broken circle. Also included on the back were wine corks, golf balls and wood. They were hung with just enough space to look through but not for everyone to walk through. A tension to indicate not everyone is invited to know what's on your inside. Suggests the unintentional Janus Face.

Skin & Guts, 2018, Oil on Canvas,

54" x 70"

Skin (or Pleasant Side), 2019, Oil on Canvas

Hiding behind the false persona of the Janus Face is Skin. Starting on the left with the positive fire of youth and eventually the darkness invades the canvas to the right.

Guts, 2019, Oil & Wine on Canvas

Guts is the dark side that deals with the hurt and struggles of both the afflicted person and the people surrounding them unable to help. It is the failure felt by both before the healing begins.

I poured wine on this canvas and allowed it to congeal before adding oils. When the oils hit the congealed wine, the surface tension broke and the wine began to weep. It continues to change shape five months later and the wine continues to weep.

Healing Begins, 2019, 15 Canvases,

14" x 14", Oils, Video and Mixed Medium

Fifteen canvases, all 14" X 14" using wine bottles, mini liquor bottles, beer can tabs, nails, string, mustard seeds peppercorns, pencils, oils, Gesso, glass, shells, cigarette, fish hooks, margarita salt, golf tees, wood shavings, marbles, and video projection.

On the side of each canvas, written in pencil:

1. Afraid to talk to you

2. I'm sad, I can't help

3. Need professionals

4. It hurts to watch

5. Right thing to say

6. Walking on eggs

7. Coping mechanisms

8. New start every day

9. Curable disease

10. You can do this

1 1. Family support

12. Roller coaster

13. This ride will end

14. Family recovery

15. You will be whole again!