In the Making

I'm currently working on three paintings that have me questioning my judgment. I was telling a friend about them recently and admitted, “I'm not sure whether I'm onto something or whether my brain is beginning to atrophy!”

I'm only partly joking. There are times in the studio when a painting seems to be heading somewhere interesting, even if I can't quite explain where. Other times, I wonder whether I'm making progress or simply making decisions that I'll eventually have to undo. Knowing the difference isn't always easy.

This is part of the experience of making art that you don't necessarily see when you look at a finished painting. You see the result, but not all the uncertainty that came before it—the changes of direction, the moments of doubt, or the decision to keep going when you're not entirely sure why.

The paintings I'm sharing here are some of those works in progress. I'm still trying to figure out what they need, or whether they need anything at all. For now, I'm willing to live with the uncertainty and see where it takes me. Sometimes a painting needs more work. Sometimes it needs a fresh perspective. And sometimes, stepping away for a while is the most useful thing I can do.

Of course, much of this happens alone in the studio. But art has a way of bringing people into the conversation. When a painting leaves the studio, it meets people with their own experiences, memories, and ways of seeing. Someone might notice something I hadn't considered or respond to a part of the painting that I'm still trying to understand myself. I find that fascinating. We may begin a painting on our own, but once it enters the world, it becomes part of someone else's experience, too. We can't predict where it will lead or what it will mean to them.

I'm grateful to those of you who follow my work and take an interest in what I'm creating, whether you're seeing a finished painting in a gallery, following along here, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes. It's a privilege to share this journey with you, even when I'm still figuring things out.

Thank you for being here.