I bet you are wondering how an artist residing in
Albany, New York gets wind of an opportunity like The
Windows Project. My aunt and uncle, Mary Lou and Duane Krueger, are long time residents of Irondequoit and their four children have or are attending IHS. When my cousins and I were kids, we would visit our grandparents in Syracuse, New York. We were always playing office or school or store and would use 1050 Winona Blvd. as our play address. To this day I still have their street address and phone number memorized. When the Krueger's had to move to Indiana for a job transfer, I admired the fact that they kept their house in Irondequoit in hopes to return back home. They did return to Irondequoit and I knew that it must be a very special place to live. When the Krueger's heard of The Windows Project, they sent the information to the family artist (me).

This project was of immediate interest to me mainly
because of the window as a starting point. I think of
my 12" x 12" panel paintings as windows or a glimpse
into another place. Each painting is made by
meditative layers of mark making, often including a
box or square as the dominant shape (a multitude of
small windows making up one larger window). The
designs in each painting are created by reacting to
the surface or layer beneath. Each proceeding layer is
then influenced by the pattern or design below it,
either working with or against the layer before. The
end result is an abstract painting emitting emotions
and engaging a conversation with the viewer.
Another major theme in my work is the occurrence of
serendipity or mistakes or blemishes. They may be
slight, not showing themselves to the quick glance
viewer, but with a more careful inspection or closer
look, these serendipitous marks present themselves.
These treasures, waiting to be discovered, became the most beautiful and engaging areas in the painting. The window in its raw form, came with nicks and scratches (as old windows should have). I embraced those imperfections and made them a star in my work.

I enjoy working abstractly. I enjoy the different interpretations that different viewers see in the paintings or the different ideas that the paintings communicate to the viewer. I prefer to work small, as to keep the experience between the viewer and the painting intimate or personal. I was excited to propose my idea for a The Windows Project and was happy to be accepted and given a window. Here is what I did with it.

My project for this window was to use it as a basic
frame work for 6 small paintings each measuring
12.25" x 14". Two of them are watercolor and gouache on paper, behind glass. Another two paintings are in my traditional style of oil paint on panel or Medium Density Board. The panels were painted then mounted, again using the frame work of the window itself as a frame. The final two paintings were painted on glass in the window pane. This offers an interesting transparent look, merging the transparency of the watercolor and the density of the oil paintings on board.

Artist Statement:
My work is inspired by beauty and pattern in nature.
Each oil painting on panel invites the viewer for an
intimate look at a meditative process of mark making.
Pattern and layering on the surface cause an abstract
perfection and serendipity simultaneously creating
emotions. I think of my 12x12 panel paintings as windows or a glimpse into another place. Each painting is made by meditative layers of mark making, often including a box or square as the dominant shape (a multitude of small windows making up one larger window). The designs in each painting are created by reacting to the surface or layer beneath. Each proceeding layer is then influenced by the pattern or design below it, either working with or against the layer before. The end result is an abstract painting emitting emotions and engaging a conversation with the viewer.