My painting is a celebration and interpretation of life around me. It's an emotional and usually joyous response to a subject such as the color or shapes of nature, the energy of urban life, the beauty of flowers, the rhythm of music, or the peace of icons. I am drawn to abstraction as a way to convey the essence of the subject with freedom, spontaneity, and individuality. My images have a life of their own and come from within. The inspirations are myriad. My translations are intuitive, from the heart, but also rational in that I use a knowledge of color, design, value, and texture to paint from feeling. I want viewers to simply feel and enjoy.