For me, what we call "real" is relative and ever-changing. Our realities are shaped by age, culture, climate, education, the media, emotion and all other experiences.

My current body of work intentionally blurs the boundary between "real" and "unreal," as I explore the natural world and its amazing elemental displays, which at times seem unbelievable or impossible. In these paintings, the sky sets the stage wherein science and fantasy coexist.

I start with a wood panel and cover it with aluminum or gold leaf and then build up layers of translucent oil glazes and varnish to create a scene with literal depth. The metal leaf shines through the paint, reacts with light and creates an internal glow that moves as you view the painting from different angles.

Lightning strikes and clouds roll towards you... it's an exercise in accessing the place in all of us where imagination rules, everything is possible and the potential for new realities are born.