My work comes from many different influences. Mayan art kicked it all off. Their intricate designs got me interested in looking at other cultures with a similar emphasis, which lead me to Middle Eastern art. I picked up a book on architecture from Andalusia, and fall in love with the structres over there. Since I'm too poor to travel right now, I've taken to reading and looking up all I can about these exotic places and travel there in my head. My current fascination is with feudal japan. One overlying theme in all my work is women. I've been surrounded by strong beautiful women all my life, and try to put them in my work whenever possible.
Work Method
All of my work is done in acrylic paint. I like not having to wait for the paint to dry, and my home isn't equipped to handle the fumes. On occassion, I will use watercolor, India Ink, and Gold Enamel to create various effects. Early pieces , such as "Sanguinecstacy", "Meditation On A Kiss", and "Mendhi Bride" are painted on canvas. In early 2005, I switched to Hardboard (Masonite) panels because the slick surface allowed for much greater control of the line work I was putting into the images. A prime example is, "Oksana". Her tattoo wouldn't be possible using any type of canvas. The major drawback to hardboard though, is that it is very heavy. My current favorite surface to paint on are Birch panels. They are light, smooth, affordable, and are already a light color similar to unbleached canvas.
