First and foremost, I aspire for the formal aspects to be the strength of my paintings. I want them to be visually compelling! For me the viewer must be engaged visually enabling them to explore concepts and find meaning. The decisions of formal elements (line, shape, color, and composition) are made first, the conceptual elements become secondary. My intentions are not to be the absolute representation of my painting. My concept or inspiration is no more valid then the interpretation that the viewer arrives at themselves.
Recently my subject matter has become simplified to a combination of iconographic animals and symbols. I assign different roles through the representation of animals as humans, as spiritual idols, and the traditional use as submissive workers. They are depicted with human characteristics and emotions, particularly a passive sadness, for example: a longing pelican in search of companionship. Elephants and rhinos, which normally symbolize strength, are conversely depicted as soft and demure. I also juxtapose animals as idols with other material objects, which may represent deities.
These roles often overlap and the lines between social class, spirituality, and human life become blurred.