I believe a life in art is one of continual learning, and I am always occupied with the study of it.  After years of non-figurative painting, I recently returned to directly painting the people and places in my immediate environment.  When I approach a subject I try to empty my mind and respond to prompts from the subject, the painting, and within, always with an eye to simplifying shapes and distilling colors and impressions.  I view this work as evidence of an inner dialog.