Process, Methods and Inspirations:

The utter capriciousness of the creative process is one I welcome and embrace. There's something about letting go to that intuitive evolution that transfers to the finished painting. Without question, the physical act of painting is important to the finished painting itself. I stand, moving back and forth, trying to maintain that ideal balance between creative abandon and physical control. For me, it takes these actions to make a beautiful, finished painting that remains somewhat organic and unrefined.  My paintings are landscapes that have been "found" not "built".

I hope to suggest a particular environment without getting to mired in the details.  I'd like the viewer to bring his or her own impressions or reflections to the painting without being taken there directly, by me.  Communicating the essence of a landscape or abstract is my goal.  Leaving some of the imagination to the viewer is key to that I think. 

I'm inspried by the emotional reactions we have to our natural world. The movement of the sky, the reaction of the earth underneath and the deep-toned colors combine to make a landscape I never tire of.  Using large brushes, palette knives and sometimes my fingers, I am a direct application painter. I mix the oil paints directly on the canvas or paper with putty knives; some as large as twelve inches. I have only a few brushes and I use them sparingly.

  Striving for work that is emotive, visceral and expressive, my interpretations of our natural surroundings is more of a feeling than a strict  observation.    R. Waiksnis