Face Series

The human face is the form we know best and is an endless source of inspiration.  It has been a major part of my work from the very beginning.  In the 70’s, I studied with Alex Katz and Paul Georges.  Their strong points of view regarding scale and image had a lasting impact on me.  My first exhibition consisted of oversized portrait drawings of fellow art students.  These were created with bold marks using oil pastel and paper.  Later exhibits featured huge, oversized heads with the eyes closed as though in a state of dreaming.  Their wood panel foundations were intensely painted and carved.  The panels were often hinged, which allowed the viewer not only to touch, open and manipulate the work but to seemingly peer inside at another’s thoughts or dreams.  

My work with the face motif evolved into a variety of series, including dreamers, frontier (jungle motif), perdidos (lost ones), pleurants (mourners), shaman (spiritual)  and others.  Whether painted on canvas, mylar, paper or wood, from which the wood is sometimes carved and reapplied, the imagery has a sense of mystery as the faces are frequently masked or painted.  Their intent is to evoke a sense of mystery, emotion and reflection.