WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL WORK PROCESS FOR EACH PIECE?

     An idea/impression/concept will come into mind.  Sometimes it is crystal clear communication that is wordless; this is ineffable and hard to articulate.  I will grab any piece of paper available and immediately scribble down that “gestalt”.  Later, I will research reference photo material, followed by a digital mock-up (if the visual imagery isn’t as clear as the “feeling of the thought”). 

     Afterwards, I will sketch a more developed version onto paper, then eventually paint onto a surface.  Months may lapse between that brief flash of an idea and application of paint.  This delay is a blessing and a curse.  The inner artist struggles because of the desire to immediately manifest the vision into reality.  But this forced delay is good; other revelations about the painting will come to light and some modifications are made to that original vision. 

     In a way, the forced pause allows the idea to mature and be fully extracted from the initial “gestalt”.