The latest group of acrylic paintings grew out of a desire to celebrate flowers with vibrant color in a more abstract way.  The process begins with mark making on board or paper, using various materials, such as ink, charcoal, pencil, oil pastels, decorative papers and acrylic paint.  Each painting is designed with a specific color palette, composition and value from the beginning. Sometimes the personality of the piece presents itself early on, and sometimes it comes later, after many layers of paint.  The titles tend to be cheeky and allude to thoughts and feelings that spring from a female point of view.  Occasionally, the paintings awaken me in the middle of the night with an identity crisis, like "Vera," who insisted on a name change. They can be a rowdy bunch and can, from time to time, have sentiments and feelings that overrule their creator’s intent. While they may be hard to control, I eventually appreciate and cherish the charm and temperament of each one.