The constant theme throughout my art is my
love affair with the human (or humanoid if you will)
face and form - it's emotion - it's beauty - and what
information a subtle play of expression can offer about the
history and personality of the subject. While my art always
seems to tell a story - it's not a tale I am always privy
too. Beings and imagery play in my mind and whisper their
demands to me as I paint. This results in mysterious images
rich with untold secrets. The most common comment I receive
is that the image seems to tell a story - or that the viewer
would "like to read that book" I invite you to do so! I
firmly believe that the stories my pieces tell exist in the
minds of the viewer - their tales cannot be known without
your imagination. It's not my job to tell the tale to
you....it's up to you to suss it out. This collaboration
between artist and audience is what I cherish most.
The name of my website - "winged things & improbable
machines" reflects without constraining the themes of my
work. I am constantly intrigued by winged things of all
kinds - be they fairies, insects, ships elusive spirits or
handcrafted flying devices. Additionally I would say I am a
shy inventor and closet engineer! I love designing jointed
limbs and mechanisms - but I care not if the machine would
really "function" in real life. That's someone else's
problem! :) Hence my machines can definitely be termed
improbable. (NOTE: it was pointed out to me that I have but
one "improbable machine" up on the site at the moment - yeah
I know - you'll have to come to FaerieCon in PA to see the
rest of 'em before they reach the site!)
Over the years I have worked in many mediums - my
favorites being Egg Tempera, Graphite, Silverpoint - and
most recently the medium of Light (digital painting).
My
influences are broad ranging - I am greatly influenced by
the Steampunk and Clockpunk esthetics as well as the myriad
of engineers in my family (my Granddad was Nautical Engineer
Peter Payne - you might have seen some of his boats in the
Bond films!) - fairy legends and Celtic mythology also
inspire me. Some of my favorite artists
are Hans Holbein the Younger, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele,
Leonardo, Gil Elvgren, Travis Charest and the work of all my
artist friends! My favorite authors include Neil Gaiman,
Neal Stephenson, Susannah Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Terry
Pratchett, Nora Roberts and Jane Austen. Musically I cut my teeth on 70's
punk and 80's new wave. But I love music of all kinds...and
my current obsessions change frequently.
My art has been featured in a few books, and licensed for
a variety of products such as stickers, t-shirts, coffee
mugs, jewelry, statues, cross-stitch and of course prints.
If you wish to contact me regarding licensing you can email
your inquiry to me
HERE.
PERSONAL NOTE: I have been predominantly labeled with
the title Fairy Artist throughout my artistic career. This
is not a label I ever chose and it has come with it's share
of good and bad. While I adore Fairies and I am proud to
paint them - I strive to be more then a "Fairy Artist" and I
hope to continue to explore freely any theme that excites
me. My most recent work is my most personal, my most
fulfilling and very "ME". Unfortunately we live in a world
that requires labels...and so yet again I find myself with
one. In order to feed search engines and give potential
visitors to a site any inkling of what they might expect
there - artist's are forced to categorize themselves in ways
that can very often be limiting. So while I embrace the
new label I been given - that of Steampunk artist - and I find it very fitting - I feel
compelled to express that I hope one day to be known as
simply a "Good Artist". Period. I am sure anyone ever beholden
to a label can relate to this sentiment!
Watch Me
Paint - LIVE! |
