Idea of Reflected Surfaces
     
A photograph I had taken of a blue fence in Japan exuded something that kept intriguing me. I used some computer software to explore the image and in the exuberance of investigating the digitized photo, I over-tweaked the file. At that point, the image no longer resembled a factual depiction of the fence, but was something I experienced as the quintessential story, or “Idea,” of that fence.

Arriving at this satisfying abstraction sent me off in a creative direction. Using Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel® Painter™, ICT Lucis, and Genuine Fractals PrintPro , I explored various other photographs to see if they had the components which could lead to images that expressed the “heart” of their subjects. It turned out that only a precious few could be moved to that exciting place.  

As they evolved, none of these images could be contained within rectangular shapes. Each one inhabited a unique, irregular, and unusual shape of its own, which delighted me and which was integral to that visual statement. In the real world, those shapes led to concerns about how they could be displayed. However, I have learned that I have to abandon thoughts of practicality in order to stay true to my artistic statement, and generally challenges such as this end up being managed by creative solutions.

 

 
I have always been an artist and have worked in a wide variety of processes. Years ago, a reluctant me experimented with using the computer to create art, and I was immediately and totally captivated by the process. The new graphic technologies have turned me into a digital/mixed-media or “tradigital” fine-artist who creates work by blending traditional art-making tools with new technology-based ones.

My art is exhibited in solo, juried, and invited exhibitions and was curated into the National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., where I spent time as an Artist-In-Residence. The work has been shown and sold nationally and internationally; venues include those in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada, and local ones such as The Triton Museum of Art, the San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, Stanford University, and The Ansel Adams Museum. The work has been discussed on television and radio, written about in books and publications, and appears on the internet, most notably as the inaugural exhibition of The Silicon Valley Art Museum .  

I work as a research consultant for corporations and have had exciting opportunities to try emerging technologies. I give talks and participate in public presentations to educate the public, collectors, and galleries about the new digital tools, have organized and managed "Art At The Pond", a San Francisco gallery for digital art, and was a founding member of Unique Editions™, a collective of digital artists.  

I make art all the time and am passionately and happily compelled to do so. Working with the computer and its associated sophisticated technologies has empowered me to take creative risks and to explore a myriad ofnew ideas. The forces that shape our lives intrigue me, and my goal is to create art that will engage viewers and cause them to wonder and reflect upon what it means to be human.