newgallery

My paintings are a gift. I am blessed with a talent to create, a passion to use and refine that ability and a deeply spiritual empathy with the beauty of life. My art comes from a process that starts deep within me and ends up on canvas as pure emotion. Painting is what I was born to do, my purpose in life.

From early childhood I was interested in color and its application in drawing and painting. I am a self-taught artist and have chosen acrylic as my medium. My first show, "Joseph's Garden", was a collection of vibrant florals. That show took place two weeks after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Like everyone in America, I was in shock and grieving for the loss of so many of our fellow citizens. I became immersed in my painting like never before. I was driven to create beauty and pleasure in reaction to and as a distraction from the overwhelming cruelty and pain.

There are no hidden messages in my work. My goal is simply to convey a feeling, and I don't sign a piece until I myself experience that feeling. My current body of work is inspired by my late father's black and white photographs. He had a great aptitude for capturing nature in a way that draws the viewer into the picture and envokes a sense of tranquility and peace. I truely enjoy creating my own colorful interpretation of them. My next show, "Like Father, Like Son", is planned for late November in Naples, Florida. It will feature Dad's framed black and white photos hanging next to my color representations.

My paintings are a gift. The endowments I've received are talent, compassion and commitment. My mission is to pass on my good fortune in as many ways as possible. I will continue to donate time and a portion of all sales to charity. I would love to be financially successful enough to set up a foundation for these activities as part of my personal legacy. In the mean time, if my art can provide a beautiful distraction for those who find the world a bit too frightening at times or inspire some to find and use their own gifts, I will have achieved a great deal.

My father, however, left me a great deal more than his pictures. He was a kind, charitable man who enjoyed helping others. I believe that's the best part of his legacy. In the wake of 9/11, I decided to donate a portion of the sales from "Joseph's Garden" to the American Red Cross. I have since become active in other organizations dedicated to providing assistance to those less fortunate.