Visual Influences

My early visual influences came from artists and traditions that expanded my understanding of color, symbolism, imagination, and the possibilities of seeing beyond the familiar. Drawn into the expansive color fields of Mark Rothko, I was captivated by paradoxical simplicity and complexity unfolding through prolonged observation. I was equally enamored by the symbolic complexity and imaginative realms of Hieronymus Bosch, as well as Chinese landscape painting traditions, where mountains, mist, and vast spaces become more than depictions of nature—they become meditative environments that invite contemplation, discovery, and a deeper connection between the inner and outer worlds. The  spirits of Dada and surrealism delighted me with their embrace of absurdity, chance, and disruption—the joyful freedom to challenge expectations and propose new ways of seeing.

My imagination has also been shaped by the poetic reflections on wonder, connection, and the mysteries of existence found in the writings of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Nicholas Christopher, and Isabel Allende, among many others whose storytelling weaves together memory, myth, magic, and the emotional landscapes of human experience. As a lifelong reader and writer, I have used literature as a way to travel the world through imagination, exploring places, cultures, and perspectives even when physical travel is not possible. I am especially drawn to Spanish and Latin American novels, historical fiction, and international voices from Europe, Asia, and South America. These diverse narratives have expanded my understanding of place, time, culture, and the many ways human experiences are imagined and expressed.

My creative journey has also been shaped by the ongoing guidance, friendship, and artistic dialogue of Frankie Slaughter—a trusted advisor, expert, and companion in the continual exploration of art, business, and the world itself.  Her work can be explored at www.frankieslaughter.com, as well as in galleries and homes around the world.