Carmen, 2024

Introducing Carmen. Perceptive, sultry, without reserve. This is an exploratory mixed media work on linen I stretched by hand. Frame is included. I first sketched in vine charcoal. Next I built up color and volume with soft pastels. I layered oil...

Introducing Carmen. Perceptive, sultry, without reserve. This is an exploratory mixed media work on linen I stretched by hand. Frame is included. I first sketched in vine charcoal. Next I built up color and volume with soft pastels. I layered oil pastels on top for additional color range and texture. Finally finishing touches and details I added with oil paint. I initially gained inspiration for my People Watching series working in advertising. I am entranced yet repelled by the glossy images in magazines. I create blind contour paintings, transforming sterile, perfect images into whimsical satire. People watching is one of my favorite pastimes and its namesake series has expanded to include travel, child and angel portraits.