Disquiet came from some things in my own environment, things happening at the time from which I drew inspiration. The rusty wire cage originated in a brief gothic moment, which I envisioned in a storm of blues and greens and violets. Smoke, a watercolor cotton plant element, and some veiny watercolo...

Time Embraced deals with all of our personal timelines. Everyone exists on their own timeline in life, going along, alongside the timelines of others. Some timelines are faster or slower than others, and sometimes they even quickly cross one another. All of this occurs against a harsh backdrop with...

Inspired by the Hellmouth (specifically, medieval art depicting the entrance to Hell), but with an urban twist, and an updated treatment more in keeping with today's concrete environments, our cities. Corruption, defacement, greed, decline of morals, etc., are all still around in abundance, if not m...

As spring arrives late, as usual, it still inspires new artwork about the newness of the outside world and how we can all get out and start enjoying the outdoors again. Winter is enjoyable for many, but there is nothing like the promise of new life that spring brings. In this piece, the constellatio...

Sometimes even the slightest obstruction impedes clear vision. Life is complicated. Overwhelming. Heavy. One has to step back to see everything, but sometimes that isn't even enough. Cut through the restraints. Clear away what's in the way, to finally see what is real. Polish your perception.

Beyond started with a dream. You know the one. Aliens are landing and you have to hide where they won't find you. You have to outsmart them. Can you? Is there time? You have to find the perfect hiding spot; somewhere absolutely foolproof. But first there is something or someone you have to find. You...

Our world is not what it used to be. Along with staggering technological advances has come a decadent, unsafe society. It is easy for young people to take a wrong turn or associate with those who would lead them astray. Above everything is a normal day-to-day life, but danger is not so far away. Dow...

Celestial Dreams began as a smokey background with an overlay of stars. Some flowers came floating in, dabbed with some color here and there, and some outlines as well. Gold sweeps and swashes dissolve into stars that scatter amongst transparent colors and strokes of color. The strokes of stardust c...

Many cultures value the camellia for different reasons and cultural purposes. In Japan, the camellia is Tsubaki, and symbolizes the divine. It is used in religious and sacred ceremonies. The inspiration for this piece was a serene feeling of peaceful blues and greens with an Asian influence. Hence,...

Sublime in paradise lies this sleepy leopard, under curvy palm fronds and vividly colored leafy vegetation. Birds fly off towards the heavens against a golden patterned backdrop. Feel the lightness of the palms, weaving through the drooping dark leaves, creating a whimsical environment of beauty and...

Lions have that cold stare; confident, strong, almost regal. The king of beasts proudly wears his God-given role as supreme ruler of the animal kingdom. His cold, ancient, weathered history is evidenced here by cracked, aged stone and falling snow, against a weathered church-like structure. While th...

This relaxed, peaceful tiger is reclining in shades of blue, underneath dangling delicate cocoons. His gaze is almost inviting, to come rest in the cool shade, take in the gentle breezes, and snooze away the warm summer afternoon. But things may not be as they seem. Just how many tigers lurk in the...

Aux yeux (to the eyes). Look to the eyes. What are they telling us? On the surface, Captivation is a fun look at glamour, and how we ladies go to such great lengths, and how we suffer for our beauty. I have always found it shocking when a woman says she is too busy with work and has no time for hair...

While I try to use positive words for titles, there is a void here. Many things around us are taking up space, but perhaps the void is really within us. Maybe it just feels that way. The void is inevitable though and sometimes it is up to us to fill it. The chaos in our lives, so much of it without...

The first title idea here was Wrecked, but it goes much further than that. Once a person is truly wrecked, downtrodden by life, they tend to operate incognito. Introverts understand this very well, almost as if they alone can feel the heaviness of life around us. For the rest of us, or perhaps all o...

Echelons explores the nitty gritty of the street, from the young kit looking up in admiration, to the roaring tiger who has risen above all. The angles and curves of the many levels of city stratum, the glitter of false opulence, always judged according to one's perceived caliber; all of these reson...

The doomsday clock is at two minutes of midnight. Are we on the edge of the aether, beyond space? On the edge of becoming nothingness? Will all of life impale itself on the spikes of doom? As we are faced with issues of climate change, a myriad of global challenges, including the nuclear realm, we n...

They say life is short, but that notion is relative. Life is fragile, which can shorten it. Life is also fleeting. Life can be dormant. Life changes. It cannot be walled in nor preserved forever. Everything living dies. The light is there, and then it isn't. We see evidence of this all around us. So...

Every single memory is connected to another until everything becomes intertwined. Some memories hang upon another and some memories string others along a path. Music and places and photos and things remind us of colorful things that have happened, interspersed with every day life, splattered about h...

Life isn't always filled with the best things. Some argue that our own choices make or break us, but that isn't always the case. Suffering from severe melancholy propels one down a spiral, into the depths of the mind. When overwhelmed by morose thoughts of death or flight, when it seems there is no...

A holiday, a special night, a fabulous trip, a milestone. We all keep mementos from these and other events, but it is not their physical presence that pleases us. Their true value is in the memories they evoke. Some are happy, some are sad, but they all have strong feelings woven into them, like a t...

Someone once told me that you can't plan your life. It's true. Song lyrics have been written to this effect. You have so many things going on, and you think you have everything tied up in neat little bow, all nice and proper, looking great from the outside looking in. But then those other things beg...

Evanescent recalls that less complicated time that is quickly vanishing, fading away. Is it as fleeting as life itself. As we grow and age, we are busy with life and time goes by so quickly, but after most of our life flits by, these origins tend to become imperceptible. We were so busy living life,...

Time to Break Free addresses those chains we all have that are holding us back. You know the ones: things we can't do because we think we can't, or something else present that is preventing you from moving forward. Well break those chains and clear up that clouded glass you're looking through. Time'...

Peace in the Jungle seems like a whimsical piece on the surface but underneath it laments wildlife's disappearing habitat over time at the hands of man. That peaceful place to live is no more, what with the clamoring of machinery clearing land and destroying their habitat. How can we deny them what...

Vintage Rose Soap is a collage that includes some grungy vintage elements with an old French soap label prominent. "Savon a la Rose" means "rose soap", but the French sounds so much better. All of the script writing elements are in French as well. No deeper meanings here, just a pretty, vintage-feel...

Imagine a secret place, off in the woods, where all the birdies can convene and chirp about the state of the bird community before retiring for the night. This place must be as beautiful and delicate as the birds themselves, to shed the cares of the day and renew the spirit.

Feather Fantasy is a mildly abstracted collage that features Native American design elements, both in focus and as pattern, along with floral blooms against a blending watercolor background. The gentle curves of the feathers almost undulate as if under water, creating a peaceful mood that can change...

Eidolon blue is a is a haze, possibly an apparition, through which signs of a time long ago appear. These can be remnants of a person's life or just ephemera forgotten in some far away attic that may never again see the light of day. Is there something more that can be unlocked? Will all these old s...

Three Deer is a collage of three young deer blended into a soft watercolor abstract background. Their shapes fade into their surroundings, but their eyes remain true. This gentle composition will create a peaceful atmosphere in any room.

Chiffon Night features two flowers softened into a chiffon-like texture, lit up by outdoor lights like those of a bazaar or marketplace. The pink and coral hues are accented by contrasting deep reds and soft white lights, with strings of incandescent lights to help chase away the darkness of night....

Yesterday's Daydream is a softly abstracted grunge composition. Shadowy blossoms are set in a lacy frame against vintage ephemera. We all daydream occasionally, but then our way of life permits some idle thought. Did people daydream a hundred years ago? And if they did, what about? Do we obsess more...

Jungle Retreat is a mildly abstracted photo collage of birds, animals, and flowers. Animals take so much abuse from humanity. Imagine a retreat, like a cross between a refuge and a spa, where all the creatures can go and relax and not fear man. Beauty abounds and the birds can perch and fly and be b...

Snoqualmie is a tribute to the Snoqualmie Pass Region. A vintage map of the region overlays a photo collage of characteristics of the Pacific Northwest. Wildlife, evergreens, ferns, maps and a log cabin nestled among the pines help create the mood, while the Rhododendron, Washington's state flower,...

The little bird on the left is recalling his mother, bringing him food, and appearing here as a ghostly figure on the right. His migration flight has likely taken him far away, as he watched the world from high in the sky, while the world watches him. It's the same with us. We get busy living our li...

Here's a little secret of mine. Sometimes an idea presents itself, and that is fine, but most of the time the art just comes forward. Once a piece is finished it is time to make sense of it. If that cannot be done, it is not finished. Nothing is random, everything must balance out and make sense. Th...

For those on the outside looking in, everything can look so pretty and perfect, but one never knows what it is really like on the inside. More than likely there are sharp edges, dots to connect, and a haze of drama hanging over someone's head. But there just might be a little birdie, gazing out at t...

Consider the trappings in life and the things that can trap you. Hinges can be found on objects that be closed up: a door to a room or closet, a diary, a cabinet. What else can be shut tight? Rivets are fasteners; what are they holding down? And why are they where they are? Ribbons and lace can tie...

Imagine a texture that glows metallic, where touch leaves an impression that bounces back. Within it lies a structure that doesn't give, but stays firm and strong. But that's like all of us. We yield to touch, emotionally and physically, but inner strength stands firm, even when a piece of us is rip...

A maelstrom is described as restless, disordered, and tumultuous. These elements are caught up in a windstorm of sorts, blown around with other debris and organic matter. While this can be symbolic of many things: life, thoughts, changes, upheaval, or something going on just beneath the surface, som...

Deep in caves, sometimes underground, we have found relics of past civilizations that tell us about ancient cultures. In this subterranean stone, we see a more colorful, abstracted feathery display, surrounded by rocky textures. There is something deeply quiet and brooding here.

Images of the studio, as many artists may know. A set of watercolors, a tray of pastels, a paint brush, and an antique box perhaps with pieces of acetate or leads, all against a blended, smudgy painterly background. Atelier is a studio, but here it is not so much a place, but more a state of mind.

Treasures is a grunge composition using vintage ephemera and multiple textures. This piece utilizes vintage writings, jewelry, and lace, with underlying floral watercolor elements. Ultimately, my grunge compositions are meant to be aesthetically pleasing and are presented for the individual to ponde...

Tapestry is a grunge composition using images blended with multiple textures. This piece utilizes Native American elements in the way of decorated feathers and arrows, beads and a textured frame. Ultimately, my grunge compositions are meant to be aesthetically pleasing and are presented for the indi...

The Making of a Clown is a grunge composition that suggests a fine line between happiness and sadness. Jesters and clowns have been around a long time. Laughter is a way of forgetting the problems of every day life, but it is only a temporary distraction. Making people feel better didn't fix any pro...

Left Behind is a grunge composition about death. After a recent death in the family, I started thinking about all the things a person leaves behind after they pass away. Possessions and fragments of objects can tell a lot about the life the person has led, and all of the things that came and went; n...

Heart In Hand is a grunge composition that explores the delicate way in which we come to trust others. One can figuratively hold another's heart in one's hand, so they say. In the case of romantic love, it is hearts and flowers and all manner of lovely things, framed by curvy, unpredictable emotions...

Door To The Past is a grunge composition that harkens back to an earlier time and a different way of doing things. Vintage ephemera from a simpler time reminds us that life was more hands-on, writings were more personal and unique, and attention was paid to details. Patterns and textures and touchab...

Carnival is a grunge composition using vintage ephemera and multiple textures. This piece utilizes multiple textures, vintage writings, scrolled frames and strings of lights. Think of walking around at a carnival on a summer night long ago, with the lights and glitzy sparkly distractions. Fancier ti...

Eternity is a grunge composition using vintage ephemera and multiple textures. This piece utilizes vintage writings and hymnal music, and cascading torn lace, with metal pieces, including a focal Trinity Cross, for shape and structure. The inspiration for this one was actually my treasured parochial...

Eternity is a grunge composition using vintage ephemera and multiple textures. This piece utilizes vintage writings and hymnal music, and cascading torn lace, with metal pieces, including a focal Trinity Cross, for shape and structure. The inspiration for this one was my treasured parochial school e...

Are we in control? If not, who IS? Is someone or some thing turning the wrench that makes our world go round? Invisible strings being pulled? Is there a beautiful, calming facade in place to fool us? This slick bit of fantasy begs that very question. This piece does not serve to undo anyone's belief...

This abstracted view of pulling away, and saying goodbye to old habits and hangups, clothed in steam punk ephemera, reminds us that what we deem important now may not be so in the future. Sometimes it is beneficial, even necessary, to break free, shed our chains, and move forward.

Somewhere there's an orchestra, in the middle of the night, with organic music and colored lights, that inspires all that is art. This place is mysterious, as it never reveals its methods, but it always makes the most beautiful music. Can you hear it? It sounds like the wind.

What is the perfect night out? Is it a night on the town, all dressed up and enjoying the finer things? Is it just being out on a perfect warm night, perhaps on a beach or near the water? Is it a motorcycle ride on a deserted highway? Perhaps the best nights are just for having fun. Nice weather hel...

Color and light have a powerful effect on all of us, whether we realize it or not. A touch of sparkle and some modern grunge, combine with sacred geometry to create a mesmerizing focal point amidst bright color and metal pieces. Kind of like a steam punk dreamland.

Wildlife is at our mercy. Animals can adapt and survive to an extent, but mankind's disregard for the welfare of creatures around the globe is having an effect on these animals. Climate change and disappearing habitat are endangering our wildlife. Let's shed some light on the plight of these noble c...

Environmental issues concern the entire world and all the creatures living in it, from this lone giraffe to all of us. Each counts. This blue marble we live on is dying and the vultures are lying in wait. It may already be too late.

Grunge piece with an emphasis on the things we have all but forgotten; crumbling architecture, mass communication in print form, etc., in favor of everything digital. Progress is good, but it has created a vast amount of waste. Not long ago, all of this was necessary. Now it is all but forgotten.

Starlight is a borderline grunge composition. Borderline because of its bright colors and sparkling elements. Starlight depicts an underworld, deep inside our thoughts, where the vivid lives and ideas twinkle in the back of our minds.

Summer nights. No distinct place to go. Relaxing, finding something to do or pass the time. Moonlight. Take a late night swim or sit on the deck under the lights. Watch the breeze blow the curtains into billowy shapes. No pressure. Just be, and enjoy.

Everything occurs in cycles. Not just days, as in 24 hours in a day, and not just years. Everything from fashion to nostalgia to politics is cyclical. All of these things complete a circle that repeats. It all becomes a patterns we can recognize. Fashions come back twenty years on. Political pendulu...