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1990-2002 Artist Statement
SELF PORTRAIT WITH CARLY 2001 (AGE 43) 1989-1990 Marks my age from 31 to 44. Most of my life was dedicated to family and work. I found time to paint on weekends and after work and holidays. Needless to say, my time was limited. During these years, I got married and we had four kids and a dog.
I was part of a family business and found myself on call 24 x 7. At any time I would have to rush down to the office and fix something critical to the operations of our company. When I wasn’t fixing things I was inventing new systems and methods to make our business work better. I was very fortunate as these years represent a time of extreme change for the world. Computers and telephones were converging, and I was right in the center.
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As you will see, I made time for art: woodworking; ceramics; figure drawing, painting, poetry, and stained glass. I explored multiple genres and styles including abstraction; figures; Chuck Close; Paul Gaugin, Henri Matisse, video games, caricatures, Bar Mitzvahs, primitives, hippy posters, insects, and iconography. The range is broad, but when you turn the pages and realize it all comes from the same hands, it makes sense.
I am very fortunate I had structure around me to help keep all of these interests on track. My wife is a champ, we always had great help. The company grew nicely during this period allowing me to hire a team. Things never seemed to be settled, there was always a big challenge, but somehow we learned, implemented, and grew. Luckily, our kids were all healthy. It seemed they would be young forever, infants and then children and finally teenagers. Time moved slowly. Looking back now, their childhoods were the blink of an eye.
All of them turned out to become talented artists. I can’t help but think I had something to do with that. While making things, which is what I do all day, I feel a certain kind of joy, and I believe that everyone wants to feel that way. With a little space, kids our kids flourished three of them in music and one as a visual artist.
Notable work:
Self-portrait with Carly, based on the style of Chuck Close. A collaboration of father and daughter.
JAIME AND DAD 1991 (AGE 33)
