Having grown up in a dysfunctional family, I was always fearful. Making art became my safe way to cope with life. I'm eternally grateful.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Paintings on canvas or gessoed wood, made with acrylic and charcoal, sometimes finished with oil glazes. I also enjoy making large scale charcoal and mixed media drawings on high quality paper.
Where do you find inspiration?Having lived close to nature the past 35 years on 20 acres of woodland in Southern Illinois, my paintings are social commentary mostly on environmental issues. Now with rising social unrest because of the actions of this administration, my response is to shine a light on protest. I create scenes of beauty and destruction using bold color and brushwork to heighten emotion and urgency. Made with acrylic and charcoal depicting abstract dreamlike images featuring symbolic animals.
What would you do with $25,000?I could afford to hire an coach to guide my late career life. Someone to help guide me through the process in 2026 to develop a following. Trying to do everything it takes in this fast paced world to get your work seen by gatekeepers is a full time job in of itself. And I can not and will not give up my studio time.
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