The Epiphany Series

A good part of the accomplishment of each of my works involves a sort of meditation process. I paint randomly for a while--not knowing where the painting is going nor what the emerging forms are all about. When I get to a point where I feel at a loss as to what to do next, I retreat to my chair across the studio and sit very quietly---contemplating the work and letting it "speak" to me---and somehow, it does.

While in this period of emotionally-charged limbo, I make quarter turns of the painting and go back to my chair each time to observe this new orientation. The final "up" side of the work is never decided upon until very near the end.

Sometimes one turn will tell me immediately what to do. Other times, all four turns will say "get out the gesso" (an opaque white medium I use for wipe-outs).

In the first of this series [above] I experienced a sudden intuitive "Knowing" that SOMEHOW the large central circle had changed in meaning from that of an ordinary Being to that of a visual metaphor for God.

In subsequent works in this series, the emergence of small circles seems to make manifest not only HIS influences on US but also our relationships with Him. Some are far away. Others are very close.