Before I began painting I spent seventeen years as a professional potter. Then I switched to two-dimensional art, beginning in watercolor. But I soon got rid of the paintbrush and picked up pastels. Their chalk-like texture reminded me of clay dust. For me, pastels are a more immediate medium, the pure pigment stick becomes an extension of my fingers.
Color vibrancy, the effects of light and, particularly, the nuances of shadow are the elements that intrigue me most. The versatility of the pastels, gives me the variety in textures I'm after. Layering the colors, changing the pressure I apply, using the harder or softer brands of pastels all combine to help me create the smooth coat of a horse or the shagginess of a grizzly.