These pictures range from about 1995-present.   I am influenced by a number of artist and movements including: Impressionists, Surrealists, Dadaists, Futurists, German Expressionists, German Romantics, Post-Impressionists, Les Nabis,  and basically stuff between about 1870 until about WW2.  I'm not big on Abstract Expressionism but I'm trying to grit my teeth and be more open minded about it; the more realistic I try to paint the more abstract my painting becomes, so something's trying to get my attention.  I'm just plain tired of Picasso and I prefer Gauguin's and Seurat's sketches to their paintings.  I am very tired of Barnett Newman.  I'd like to be able to paint like Alice Neel.  I wish I had a Mardsten Hartley on my wall.  I do not like the Mona Lisa.  I'm a hypocrite as far as what I do or do not like.  Kurt Schwitters is my muse.  I wish I knew where my painting is going.  I wish I'd kept my mouth shut at U.Mass. and spent more time painting and less time whining.

I wish to thank all my art proffesors;

Mrs Valente who did her best inspite of Proposition 2.5 and no funding, Ralph Cauette andRobert Morey who did what they could despite being tired of a thankless environment, Ronald Michaud, James Hendricks who forced me to confront my own predjudices, Carol Struve, Gene Cauthen who forced me to draw better and John Pachenko(sic) who forced me to see that colors reflect off each other.  It sounds lame, but it hadn't clicked before then.  I'd also like to thank the late Leonel Gongora who used to disarm me by looking at whatever I was painting and tell me what was going on inside my head at the time.  I studied with him just before he died when he wasn't entirely in control of his own mind but he always told me exactly what was wrong with my pictures and why.

I'd like to thank the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ....I have forgotten the names of the teachers but they undid a lot of U.Mass. damage in one summer.

 

When I draw or paint I want the viewer to get bombarded with the same emotional reaction I get from the subject.  I want them to know how something looks, how it smells, what it feels like to stand there, how much I like a person or just how much I can't stand them.  If I could hit save and play back everything I've stuffed into my head for you I would.  However I can't, so I paint or draw instead.