'Santa Maria Maggiore'_42 x 84 inches, acrylic on canvas 2024
The 'Eye of God' (Oculus from Latin 'eye'; pl: oculi) is a circular opening in the center of a dome or in a wall. Originating in antiquity, it is a feature of Byzantine and neoclassical architecture.
This work is based on the geometry of the ceiling of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy.
I begin each painting by constructing a linear geometry and only when satisfied with the composition will I introduce color. I consider geometry to be sacred but recognize that it is a form of mathematics and must be consciously constructed. Once resolved, it becomes a facade for the light which defines the act of painting. Color is Light and is divinely inspired - after 60 years of painting my vocabulary of sensory experiences is extensive enough so that every application of new color demands a response which seems predetermined. Working in a forgiving medium (acrylic paint) allows me to constantly change color, layer over layer until I achieve an inevitable balance and the light in the work is as it must be.