These images begin in the depths of my inner reality. Sometimes as dreams or visions. Sometimes as if they are channeled. I start the process of bringing them out of my imagination into our shared reality by creating an oil pastel. Once I have captured a basic impression, I completely let go of this image and risk losing the naive vision in hopes I find it more fully realized through the creative process. 

I cover the pastel in black, submerging the original effort in darkness. Once the image is lost, the rediscovery process slowly begins. Scratching away the shadows I begin to reveal complexity and create texture. Within, I find a richness that was not possible without darkness…. much like life.Each of these pieces is a leap of faith, a surrender to a process that connects me to eternal emergence.  Knowing what could have destroyed us actually gives us access to wholeness. Confrontation with the dark makes the light more powerful. It welcomes us into dynamic balance.