Growing up I was introduced to fairy tales, fables and myths. My father, who was a performer, could read the old stories with such great expression that he made them come to life for me. Imagination was celebrated, and make-believe tales were a common family event complete with costumes and props.
In my earliest darkroom experiences, I used multiple enlargers and negatives, selectively burning and dodging the light coming through the lens to enhance my images. Today I use digital darkroom tools to combine and overlay images, working in monotones and adding layers of texture and sometime color to capture the nebulous shadow world of dreams. I select images taken from places I have visited and often work with models to create my vision.
My photomontage images, offer the viewer a variety of dream landscapes inhabited by characters caught in the grip of wonder as they journey through an inscrutable world. I create my fantasy narratives by using images of ancient places, castles, sepulchers and catacombs that have always been a powerful emotional stimulus for me.
I am captivated by the artistry of illustrators like Arthur Rackham, and intrigued by drawings from the 17th and 18th century artists like William Blake, which has influenced my use of warm graphic tones.
My latest works have the added elements of collage and paint, which allow me to emphasize the story elements and utilize my background as a painter.