A wide-eyed fascination with comic books since I was a boy generated a passion for the genre that drives my considerable Abstract Expressionist paintings today. Comic books fueled my early love for art and reading. After struggling for many years with how to integrate this boyhood passion in to my paintings, I stumbled upon a book comprised of Action Comics covers featuring Superman from the 1930’s and 1940’s. The book became the inspiration for my signature Action series combining the elements of Abstract Expressionism and the Pop Art elements of comic books.

    My arts education took shape at UMass/ Dartmouth where I earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from 1985-89. However, my desire to create comics evolved into a love for painting. I studied and practiced Abstract Expressionism, Germany Expressionism, and Pop Art during those developing years. The works of Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Jackson Pollack, Willem DeKooning, Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat, but most notably the works of Franz Kline inspired my vision and continue to influence my work.

    I painted my first notable abstract works in my final year at UMass/Dartmouth. These bold black and white paintings of wide bold brush strokes, drips and splatters pointed me in the direction of Kline and Abstraction Expressionism. 

    After leaving school I worked sporadically for many years and earned a Masters degree in Education. In the summer of 2004, I seized the opportunity to paint a mural at the health club I attended. With the successful completion of the mural of the vineyards of Tuscany, my desire to paint was revived, but I needed a place to work away from home. After making several inquires for studio space, I was made aware of the launching of a new arts community in Lowell at Western Avenue. Soon I became a founding member of the growing Western Avenue Studios community. I maintain a studio there to this day while I prepare my body of work to pursue my career as a working painter. 

SLAM! BAM! BOOM!

The explosion of the prime colors of the old three-color press; bold, robust brushstrokes, and gentle criss-crossing painterly drips in my Action Abstract paintings delve into the essential questions of the use of color, composition and balance of abstract expressionism over pure content and representational painting. Simultaneously, I integrate tangible elements of pop art (numbers, prices, etc.) through images from Action Comics covers featuring Superman from the 1930’s-1950’s. The “under-painting” of these canvases include photographs, drawings, words and numbers from comic books or representative of those that would be found on those covers that serve as structural anchors within the work. What are produced are spontaneous, layered pictures of acrylic and acrylic latex enamel paint combined with collage generating varied textures and depth within each painting. The layering of elements subsequently gives rise to a sense of mystery as the viewer sees only hints, partial views, fragments, excerpts of the underlying layers. The combination gives my canvases depth and pop.