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Close to Home

The Close to Home Collection represents the origins of my artistic journey and celebrates the beauty and resilience of everyday life. In 1994 I moved from Los Angeles to Fresno, CA and enrolled in a university photography course. With a used 35mm camera loaded with black and white film, I set out to capture everyday scenes — vintage trailers, weathered lawn chairs, and flea market treasures — that felt rich with story and character. It felt like I had dropped into John Steinbeck’s world. Over time these images evolved into paintings and mixed media works. I often incorporate humble materials, such as torn paper bags, to echo the spirit of the subjects. 

Six paper bags over fractured mixed media background.. Gold, turquoise, white, black and gray.

Bags on Bags

Worn metal chair holds books. Open sign and corrugated fence above water and plants.

Open on Sundays

Window crossed with color. Olive green, purple, gray.pale yellow and highlights of vermillion.

Overgrowing

White poppies climb window. Bright blues, white, browns, yellow-green highlight.

Remembrance

Lawn chairs in front of a shipping container home covered with graffiti. Electrical wires, tools and shadows fill the compositon.

Signs of Life, Rerouted

Mobile home trailer with weathered wood on collaged elements. Grays with few highlights of bluish green.

Signs of Life, Trailer 3

Dressmaker's mannequin over collaged elements.

Unbound

Detail of cactus in yellow greens and purple.

Yes, and Still

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