Production. The processes involved in my work are addition and subtraction. I work with a layering procedure that is often laborious as it involves taping off square or stripes to give a desired effect. I experiment with paint and the way that it reacts with the tar that I use. The tar is petroleum based and tends to eat its way back through any amount of oil paint that is place upon it. I stabilize the tar with acrylic-based mediums so that the oils will adhere and dry. This seems to have endless possibilities and often brings welcomed surprises to a finished piece. I have a self imposed work ethic in each painting as I feel each piece must undergo a certain degree of layering for me to feel it has been truly formed. Each work is fully covered with tar when I feel the layering is complete and then the subtraction process begins as I remove the tar and reveal what chemical processes have occurred underneath. The finishing touches are added at this point or the whole thing is painted over again to my satisfaction. The last step is to seal each piece with beeswax and a coat of high grade acrylic polyurethane.

Evolution of Work. My work is a direct descendent from other artists that have or currently do work in the 20th century. I find myself drawn to nonrepresentational or abstract artists more than any others because I feel that the beauty of the visual arts is when a work goes beyond the allowances of articulation and moves the viewer on a level that cannot be explained or have to be. The object itself is reason enough for its existence. This is the direction I see for my work as I try to create things that take up their own personal space and justify nothing but themselves.

Education -

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Area of Concentration - painting, Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Medium -

Oil, tar, acrylics and whatever on canvas, paper, panel and anything I can find.

Exhibition Highlights -

Lexington Council for the Arts. Three Man Show. Lexington, Ky. January 1989.

Artsplace Gallery. Six Year Retrospective Invitational Exhibition. Lexington, Ky. September 1990.

Artswatch Gallery. Lavender Art and Craft Exhibit. Honorable Mention. Louisville, Ky. June 1992.

Southern Illinois University. Arts in Celebration. Carbondale, Illinois. September 1992.

Artsplace Gallery. Three Man Show. Lexington, Ky. August 1992.

Artist's Attic. Annual Competition. 3rd. Place. Lexington, Ky. September 1992.

Water Tower. Louisville Visual Art Association Water Tower Annual. Louisville, Ky. April 1993.

Artsplace Gallery. Lexington Council for Arts, Two Man Show. Lexington, Ky. February 1997.

Van de Griff Gallery. One Man Show. Santa Fe, New Mexico. May 1998.

Central Public Library. Two Man Show. Lexington, Ky. December 1998.

Water Tower. Louisville Visual Art Association Water Tower Annual. Merit Award. Louisville, Ky. March 1999.

Swanson-Cralle East Market. Two Man Show. Louisville, Ky. January 2000

Arts on Main Juried Exhibition. July-August,2000. Shelbyville, KY.

Swanson-Cralle East Market. One Man Show. August-September 2001. Louisville, KY.

Kentucky Visions Invitational Exhibition. Governors Mansion. April, 2003. Frankfort, KY.

Swanson Reed Contemporary. One Man Show. May 2004. Louisville, KY.

Swanson Reed Contemporary. "M Art after Minimalism Group Show." May 2005. Louisville, KY.

Swanson Reed Contemporary. "New Work" One man show. May 2006. Louisville, KY.

Representative Galleries and Consulting Firms -

EDL and Associates, Atlanta, Georgia. Swanson-Cralle East Market, Louisville, Kentucky. Art Source L.A. Los Angeles, CA.

Awards & Publications -

Al Smith Fellowship. Professional Artist Assistance Award. January, 1996. New American Paintings. Juried exhibitions in print. Winter, 1997. Art News. May, 1998. Encyclopedia of Living Artist. February 2001.

Personal -

Continuing member of the Lexington area Olivia Newton-John Fan Club. Abba Impersonator. Collector of McCoy Pottery and other 50's memorabilia. Nietzche nihilistic hopeful.