Since 2018, I’ve been following a new direction in my work – a change of subject, media, and working methods – by revisiting a decades-long fascination with Eastern Orthodox icons, in particular those created in the 13th – 15th centuries in Russia. Some selected work from the past few years is below.
I hope that my explorations will extend an invitation to the viewer’s eye to roam as mine have done, finding visual relationships and harmonies of form, color, and underlying geometry. These paintings are not intended to tell a story, but the remnants of stories remain, from which the viewer may allow their own meanings to emerge.
Invitation2023Casein, oil, and metal leaf on gessoed wood panel40 x 30 inches
Announcement, II2023Casein and metal leaf on gessoed wooden panelDiptych, 24 x 36 inches
Mourning, II2022Casein and metal leaf on gessoed wooden panelDiptych, 30 x 48 inches
Mystical garden, IV2022Casein and oil on gessoed wooden panel30 x 40 inches
Mystical garden, III2022Casein and oil on gessoed wood panel48 x 36 inches
Mystical garden, II2022Casein and metal leaf on gessoed wood panel36 x 24 inches
Archangels2022Casein and metal leaf on gessoed wood panelDiptych, 48 x 36 inches
Reflection2021Casein, oil, and metal leaf on gessoed wood panelDiptych, 24 x 36 1/2 inchesThe
The title, "Reflection," refers to the visual elements repeated between the two panels, and the meditative attitude of the figures. Also, I reflected for a long time on Andrei Rublev's "Old Testament Trinity" during the process of making this painting, which is only a mere reflection of its sublime beauty.
Rejoicing2021Casein, oil, and metal leaf on gessoed wood panel40 x 60 inches
Tenderness, I / Tenderness, II / Tenderness, III2020Casein, oil, and metal leaf on gessoed wood panelEach 24 x 18 inches
These are three of six 18 x 24 inch paintings based on the interlocking composition found in an icon of the Virgin of Tenderness. Not attempting to make an icon in the traditional sense permitted me to be free to change colors, patterns, and flip the image. The face-forms are simplified so that the interrelation of the shapes takes precedence. I have taken classes in Byzantine icon painting and have a deep respect for that tradition. I won't make an icon unless I am able to do it in earnest with a complete fidelity to that process.
Tenderness, IV / Tenderness, V / Tenderness, VI2020Casein, oil, and metal leaf on gessoed wood panelEach 24 x 18 inches
Void2020Oil, casein, and metal leaf on gessoed wood panel40 x 30 inches
Arrangement2020Casein and oil on gessoed wood panelDiptych, 36 x 48 inches
Enthroned2021Casein, oil, and metal leaf on gessoed wooden panel40 x 30 inches
Brothers, IV2019Casein, oil and metal leaf on gessoed wood panel24 x 36 inches