A Personal Philosophy

After many years of observation, and a certain amount of trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that our lives are governed by a very simple set of principles. My aim is to live and work in harmony with these principles.

I believe we get back exactly what we give out, but somehow multiplied. Our present society seems intent on expressing an ever-increasing number of disturbing and aggressive images. It is not my intention to add to these, nor to allow them too much space in my experiences. I try to make anything I produce as positive and life-affirming as possible.

I am convinced that the images we hold in our minds come true in our reality. Unfortunately we are encouraged to focus only on the images presented to us by the various media, and we tend to believe that these pictures are how the world really is. We forget there are many more expressions of life that are just outside our daily view.

I believe that our experience of life is the sum total of the choices we make. We are also completely responsible for those choices. My paintings are a reminder to me, and hopefully others, that there is an abundance of simple beauty still in the world, waiting wherever we choose to find it.

It is possible to view life very simply, in a way that makes it full of joy and a delightful experience. I see the world as a truly magical place, where all things seem to be connected in some mysterious way.

Life is a journey, and Desley and I have decided to live part of our journey in Italy. This is a country with an over-all patina that I find irresistible. Italians have a wonderful zest for life and a healthy dislike for authority. Couple this with its immense cultural heritage, and what appears to be chaotic organization, and you have a situation that is very seductive.

My painting process is also very simple. Wherever I go I am presented with certain images, situations, ideas, or even subtleties of colour and patinas, that strongly appeal to me. A particular subject will resonate with some internal harmonic, and this produces a specific sensation within me, which somehow works its way into a painting.

The aim of my work is simply to communicate these feelings to others.