A print from a social work trip to the Navajo Reservation- taped to the window of an old house in winter

The way one works

I like quality from the inside out. In order to have a healthy body, one should only eat the best foods full of quality nutrition. I make paintings in a similar fashion. I have no interest in simply purchasing pre-made supplies for the sake of convenience. That would be like eating potato chips or a boxed meal- someone else is telling you it is good, but is it? I prefer to buy large birch or oak panels (1/4") and cut them down to size myself. A number of years ago I had read up on how to make your own gesso, and knew I did not want to be using pre-made (plastic) gesso. I want to know what is in my materials! What is going into my painting is what makes it quality! So, I take the time to melt down rabbit skin glue and add calcium carbonate to it. I have to soak the glue overnight and it usually takes the entire next day to put it on my panels. This gesso is a real process, but i enjoy this. I have also been attempting to make my own paints. I mix some pigments and have recently been attempting to make egg temperas. This is the way I want to make my work, with a real PROCESS involved. It is certainly not just about the finished product. Being an artist is having my whole life a part of the creation.....

The mis-leading path (Acadia National Park)

oil on panel

24"x30"