Terrain

I was very fortunate to have a wonderful painting instructor at the MFAH Glassell School of Art in Houston for a number of years beginning in the late 1990’s. Terrell James, a well known Texas contemporary artist, encouraged us to engage deeply with our work. Sometimes she would walk by and make a mark with red paint on my canvas - forcing me to make reactive marks and dive a little deeper into the work, thinking about it in less precious terms. She also emphasized the importance of experiencing art in person, a practice that has profoundly influenced my artistic journey and appreciation for contemporary art. Engaging with art face-to-face allows for a deeper connection and understanding, a practice that continues to enrich my process thirty years later. I still enjoy the simple pleasure of smashing around oil paint - all be it on on smaller surfaces as I’m working in tighter spaces but always appreciate the rich buttery quality of oil pigments and mediums.