Speaking in Symbols

Symbolism, according to art historians, was a movement that began around 1880 and ended in the 1920s. If you are into boundaries and barriers, that definition works just fine. I’m not. It doesn’t.

“Underlying Truth” is about illusion – What we believe. What we see. And how that eclipses the foundational truth.

As opposed to Impressionism, with its commitment to the reality of the surface, Symbolism was a more holistic view as an artistic and a literary movement. It suggested ideas through symbols and emphasized the meaning behind the forms. Symbolism was a precursor of modernism. It developed fresh, abstract expression of psychological truth suggesting that behind the physical world lay a spiritual reality. Symbolists could take the ineffable, such as a dream or vision, and give it form.

Symbolism is not limited to a movement. It is an enduring method of communication. Jung explains that through exploration of symbols one will eventually discover its fundamental archetype. That succinctly summarizes my path from sketch to sculpture. Art is a process of discovery through query and response. The object created is a summary of that process. The real art is the doing.

Communicating through symbols isn’t a conscious decision for me. Symbols have always been a comfortable vehicle for me to absorb and transmit information. They invite many levels of interpretation. The message can be suggestive, timeless, universal, grand.

I use visual metaphors as a form of poetry expressed in multiple languages at once. The symbols I use are gestural – human, animal and combinations of the two.

The infinite variations of gesture are the root of story telling. Abstracting the form, like editing text, is a process of eliminating anything that doesn’t contribute to the story. What’s left invites viewers to explore and encounter their own archetypes.

How I manage creativity to produce unique ideas

Creativity, like any skill, must be managed. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with many insanely creative people. The most successful all had one thing in common. They understood that generating ideas is not a random flash of inspiration. It is a skill that is honed daily.

Here’s how I approach my work. This talk was delivered on Friday, March 11, 2022 to a wide online audience and members of PDX Commons.

Sculptures recently sold

My Three Shadows - mixed media mask

A couple of items found new homes on the east coast last week. “Mentor” pays homage to my many generous teachers and the impact their wisdom has had on my life. “My Three Shadows” is an early attempt at mask making. It ventures into the realm of what Rick Bartow described as “things you know but cannot explain.”

How NFTs enhance an art collector's experience and expand art appreciation

Examples of NFT media that can be bundled into the complete experience.

I’ve been exploring NFTs as a potential path to create richer provenance for my art. Traditionally, provenance refers to the history of ownership of a piece. Any gallerist will tell you that photos of an artwork in the artist’s studio, or photos of the artist working on the piece enhance the credibility and value of the piece.

My perspective is a bit broader. I see the finished piece as evidence that art happened. The real art is the creation – the process of exploration, the discovery, creating and solving problems. My sculptures are the result of many sketches over days, months or even years before I see something unique enough to execute in 3D. In addition to sketches and watercolors, my working documentation may include photos that I manipulate in Photoshop to expand my own understanding of the piece. I may shoot video as I think aloud during the process.

When I sell a piece, I sometimes include copies of sketches. With NFTs as an additional option, documentation of the work in progress expands the collector’s experience. It may expand their perception of the meaning. Or, it may alter their appreciation of how I saw the form and the space. The experience becomes much richer than simply owning a static digital image, or an simple animation. A video turntable image gives the full 360 degree view of the piece. My newest exploration includes a 3D image that collectors can spin and tumble to fully explore the space and form.

To date, I have only minted a few masks as NFTs.

Note added 2/2026 - I have not minted any additional NFTs and do not expect to create any more. I consider the scarcity of a unique, one-of-a-kind original art to be far more valuable than a digital image.

Point your camera at this image to download a 3D version of this sculpture.