I began “Animal Stories” as an experiment with sumi ink and calligraphy pens. I wanted to the the ink to create tones and lines similar to those used in etching, but also be able to work with immediacy of drawing. Over time the drawings became more expressive. I left under drawings and handwritten notes because I thought they were interesting and showed the process that I worked through. After creating several sumi ink drawings I experimented with their translation into oil paintings. In the oil paintings I played with composition, color, and expression using layers to suggest volume and movement. The oil paintings are further dramatizations into the character of each animal suggested by the form, expression, and atmosphere of the composition.
In this work I play with ideas of personal psychology through identification with animals. Each picture contains its own story and suggests something about the animal, possibly playing on m own identification with its traits. The compositions reference Native American spirit guides and pay homage to natural cycles. I heavily influenced by Chinese classical sumi ink scrolls that contain writing and drawings of the natural world. I believe that humans and animals share many traits, habits, and needs and are fundamentally connected to one another. Perhaps this work will inspire or remind us of our own nature.