After I finish a painting, there is still more work to be done. One is to make sure my painted edges are finished on all four sides of the stretched canvas. I use thick stretcher strips with no visible staples, so the canvas is wrapped around the edges cleanly. With this style, I can exhibit work without the extra cost of framing. When a collector purchases a painting, they can decide whether to hang it as I do or to add their own frame, which suits their specific decor. One of the other tasks after my painting is dry is to brush on a layer of medium. This is called oiling-out, and it unifies the glossy and matte surfaces of paint so the entire piece has a smoothly unified surface. This is a very satisfying stage of creating work.

This is a daily journal of my creative efforts as I prepare for my June 2026 solo exhibition in Poughkeepsie, NY, and my November exhibition in Chelsea, New York City.