I learned the art of acrylic and pastel painting through private instruction, after having spent my career as a designer of printed fabrics in the New York market place. I am a graduate of the College of Design, Art and Architecture at the University of Cincinnati, with a major in the History of Art, 1977. Later, I studied printed textile design at Parsons School of Design, in New York. Immediately afterward, I began free lance work for several design studios in the garment district of NYC, where I did re-coloration work for printed apparel fabrics, and sold my own designs through Bread and Butter Designs,also located in New York. In addition, during the 1980's and 1990's, I designed a number of needlecraft and stencil books for Dover Publications. Currently, I am working on a series of exotic birds and other animals done in acrylic paint, with a palette knife, for texture and brilliant color. I consider my paintings to be representational or impressionistic in nature, and I use fantasy colors because what I see often makes me feel these colors,and what would make an interesting composition, rather than using realistic colors.
"Life is an onion and one peels it crying."--French proverb
Escapism. Defying time. Serenity and solace. Reliving treasured moments...the reasons I paint and make artwork. The creative acts are surely the most pleasant and yet difficult of all. Color and form are special friends. The challenge of perfecting artwork is monumental and exhilarating. This effort has grown to be both friend and family, which are the two most important aspects of my life. Judaica is my most challenging art...Hebrew and I don't always get along!
I'm mainly self-taught in art, relying on intuition, experimentation, benefiting from studying books, visiting museums, galleries and learning painting techniques from other artist friends/relatives. I've studied pastels with Clive Tyler, taken oils with Daniel Edmondson. My newest medium is painting on glass, inspired by an Italian master, bringing this art technique home and applying my own topics. My oils are mainly with palette knife.
This art style might be called "abstract realism", an oxymoron in its own right. Favorite contemporary artists include Cruciani, L Horowitz, Berberian, S Stork, C Tyler, D Edmondson.
"Life is short, use color!"
