Autumn Mist Painting

Born in Portland, ME to an Irish Mother and an Italian-Scotch-Irish father, I spent my early youth in the Northeast (ME/NY/PA). My Mother encouraged the artist inside at the age of 4. By age 11, I had "won" the Art Institute's drawing contest, but was ineligible for the grant due to age. Through the loving encouragement of my Mother and various art teachers, I had my first one man art show at 14 and at age 18, had my first poetry published. By the time I entered the military, I had sold into major homes and businesses. After the service, I was married with a child and a wife who constantly badgered me about the TIME I spent on my "foolish" pursuits. The pressure became too much and I caved in; I stopped painting and writing. For THIRTY years! I restarted my poetry about 14 years ago and, as a result, was published in the International Who's Who of Poetry in 2011 & 2012. I also picked up a paint brush again in 2012. To my great surprise, the muse struck me hard and I have been going strong ever since. About my work: I have many facets to my art. I haven't limited myself to just one form, one style, or one view of the world about me, and the world that exists within my head, heart, and soul. After restarting my art, I asked myself one question - do YOU have a style? To which myself answered - mebbe! To that end, I started experimenting and found that my art decides WHAT & WHEN a certain spark ignites an image to appear on whatever canvas I am working on. Sometimes, it is an image that is buried within the canvas - much as Michelangelo declared that he didn't sculpt, he released the sculpture that was trapped within the marble. That is what happens to me when I start. I stare at the canvas for a long time before I even pick up a brush. The first thing that strikes me is a color, so while I am mixing the paint, I continue to peruse the canvas. I sometimes work with the canvas on the floor, at other times on an easel or hanging on the wall. I tend to become consumed with the work until it says "STOP! I am done!" At which time, I put down the brushes, clean up, and let the work rest. After all, getting born takes a lot out of one! I use various methods for raising the image - drip/action, color field, realism, palette knife, etc. I also work with everything from pencil to pen, India Inks to watercolor, oils to acrylics (heavy and normal). Sometimes, "found" items find their way into the work; locating a cozy place to curl up and rest.