Artist’s Statement:

 The investigative process I undertake through art is not only one of the technique I need to convey my content, but an exploration of my own cultural roots. As a young artist, I discovered my native Dominican Republic, as a subject, and the fantasy of the Dominican carnival. This cultural exploration and self-examination continues today.

I am a fan of art in all its forms, from the great art of the museums, from all epochs and cultures, in all media, to community arts in the least formal settings. Human expression is at the core of all of them. Therefore, I am fortunate to be able to share my visual poetry with others.

In my own practice, I have always “beaten my head against the plainest things in painting” (my paraphrase of a comment by Wilhelm DeKooning). For me that means striving to achieve control of my means: clear drawing; effective use of color and light to create convincing visions. I see my art as a language through which I hope to communicate directly and effectively, not only with artists, but with all viewers. As a practitioner who values content, my goal is to present not only the visual facts, but the feel of the fact.

Artist’s Bio:

My family emigrated to the United States in 1963, when I was 10 years old. We took up residence in New York and I have lived in the area most of my life. While still in High School, I discovered my interest in art and have never looked back. I went to the University of Pennsylvania to study with influential teachers such as Neil Welliver, Rackstraw Downes and Yvonne Jacquette. The experience I had there broadened my horizons, gave me greater confidence and cemented the course I had begun. I have two children from a previous marriage and live with my current wife on Long Island.