In my experiences making paintings, I find that the completed works often effectively serve as bridges between my conscious mind and that of my audience thereby providing an evolutionary affirmation that we are not alone. My interest in creating art is rooted in my understanding that artistic creation erases the barriers between the phenomenal world and my imagination by allowing me to explore my sensory experience, my emotions, my intuitive reactions, my love of nature, my complex social relationships, and, eventually, my place in the cosmos in the imaginative worlds inside my imagination. When I am engaged in the process of making art, I think more deeply, and time moves more slowly than at any other time in my life. My mind becomes absorbed within an ever-rotating cycle of images, ideas, memories, and perceptions that meld as I wrestle the chaotic flow of elements into a harmonious whole. My paintings provide a portal to a direct experience of the natural beauty, excellence, and energy that drives our social, intellectual, spiritual, and biological evolution. As I allow myself to lose myself in the intuitive process of painting, I have also discovered a fascinating well of inspiration that springs out from my diverse cultural upbringing in the Middle East, the Philippines, and the US. By reflecting upon this internalized ‘canvas’ of a challenging medley of starkly contrasting cultural experiences I encounter a highly personal well of inspiration that infuses my art with energizing spirit and emotional satisfaction.
I love to paint with inspiration from the visible phenomenal world and am profoundly motivated to further develop the ability to respond to the beauty deliberately and effectively in the world surrounding us. Lately, I have focused on nuanced colors and their ability to generate vibrance while embracing chiaroscuro’s traditional role in achieving a sensation-modeled form through light or dark variations.
I find that I regularly rely on the pictorial inventions of the renowned artists Henri Rousseau, Claude Monet, and Paul Cezanne. I still remember the very first time I experienced Sunrise, by Claude Monet. It immediately brought value into my life because it provided a profound sensory experience that could generate a spiritual epiphany through his inspired use of color, composition, and lose gestural paint application. Monet’s valuing of the visible phenomenal world, specifically his sensitivity to individual flora in the wider landscapes, conveys a poetic insight that parallels how I respond to and appreciate both color and nature.
I strongly believe that art enables me to live a fuller life by expressing myself physically, emotionally, and intellectually. The painting process allows me to connect with individuals worldwide, crossing borders, cultures, languages, and generations. My determination to strengthen my overall understanding of art and art practice while working to develop my technical studio skills is an integral part of my commitment to and enthusiasm for the pursuit of excellence, that guides me in everything I do.
A section from my short film, "Master of Two Canvases," by filmmakers Carson Wine & Sam Clay.
