As a painter, I construct images from fragments of remembered experience, including pieces from childhood, literature, art history, and architecture. I draw from the direct expression that’s tied to folk art, the symbols used in Regionalism and my personal experiences. The interweaving of abstraction with realism is fundamental to my work because this abstracted reality allows me to search for visual rather than narrative solutions, ultimately freeing me to get lost in the act of painting. Figuring out how to juxtapose and combine different ideas, finding their connective thread, and constructing them into a believable place is both a challenge and reward in my painting process. My intention is to discover connections between imagination, spirit, history and concrete reality, creating a vision of a life that is alive with mystery.