Artist Statement

I choose to work as an abstract artist because I have always loved shape and color. As a child my favorite things where crayons and colorforms. The smell and texture of the waxy crayons and the slick, shiny surface and odd shapes of the colorforms led me to my work in encaustic.

I find encaustics to be predictably unpredictable. I may start a piece with a particular idea in mind, but the encaustic medium takes over and invariably alters my intentions. I also enjoy the spontaneity that happens when the wax and the heat react.

As a child with crayons, I was told to stay in the lines and I was in control. Now it is the opposite, the encaustic medium tends to be in control and I and the medium have to find a mutual ground. Then in the end, I am able to polish my art and get the slick shiny surface that reminds me of my colorforms.