In the process of creating a painting I shift back and forth between abstract and figurative work. The abstract is based on improvisation. At some point, with any luck, a compositional constellation begins to emerge and a connection takes place between me and the painting. Philippe Guston once pointed out that there is a mysterious element to the picture plane –“an imaginary plane that defies any traditional explanation”. I believe that the moment we become lost in a painting, we are closest to the space between heaven and earth that the Japanese describes as “Nakazura”, the silent place of all and nothing. An inexpressible place, between dream and reality, for escape and solace which hopefully, ultimately heals and leaves the viewer with a fresh way of seeing Home Base.