I began to realize that exposing oneself is the only way to truly communicate. And communication is what we do as artists—conveying feelings inspired by a figure or landscape, harmonizing color and form to create peace, beauty, and whatever else is missing in the franticness of our lives.

I want the spectator to enter my world of fantasy and reality.

What ties my work together, I believe, is color relating to color. Josef Albers comes to mind, and Matisse is certainly an influence. I admire so many painters and painting schools, from the Italian Renaissance to the most avant-garde artists of today, and everything in between. I steal from everyone.