Paintings are sensual and very present. I love the sense of connection painting provides- both with the painter and what is painted. Painting has always made sense to me because it brings to light the inner. I am often drawn to paintings which show the invisible world of emotional reality expressed through what we can see, what it is to be and to belong to this world  The emotional life is so important. I think art deals with this by giving expression to how we feel about being here. In my work themes may come from anywhere: a piece of text, a friend’s comment, a dream, an event. When a theme seems right for a painting then I prepare and look for opportunities to find a composition to suit that theme.I rarely pro-actively chose the theme. It presents itself and that is when I go into my studio and try to give a form to what is already there. My work deals with several levels of being and is an ongoing recording of my experience, often through portraiture. I am a witness- but rather like a witness in a dream because the witnessing is emotional and ultimately about myself. So I am a witnessing being. I am asking what is it to be and belong? Almost everything is a source of inspiration. I am interested in a range of art forms, music , literature, films and painting seem to be the most fecund. Primarily other painting motivates me- when I see good painting it makes me want to rush to my studio- but many things: a lyric, a passage of writing, an observation in the world- the world is very beautiful, and of course the changing environment inspires me. I really enjoy giving form to a theme in paint. I am not exactly sure what motivates me. I do not think about it too much. I just know that it is good to paint and there is pleasure and difficulty in making a painting resonate. I use different painting techniques. Oil paint strikes me as richer than acrylic, although I also use acrylic as well as watercolour and tempera. I draw to work out pictorial ideas. I have always been fascinated by fresco and would like to try it one day. The connection between my process and the message of the painting is very often practical determined by where and how something is to be a painted. I like the way oil paint handles. It is versatile and has a lot of expressive potential, so the subject of the painting influences the way in which I may use the paint and mediums. I want the painting to be a beautiful expressive object in its own right. For me painting is a communicative medium and I paint what it feels like to be and belong. The meaning of my work is in the creating of it and I hope that the result will have meaning for others too.