Artist Statement
Years ago it came to my attention that many people loved looking at my coffee paintings but insisted they could not paint. It was my impression impression that they were afraid. They didn’t paint but loved coffee so I put the two together. People are not afraid to paint because they don’t think of coffee as paint. I’ve been teaching coffee painting for several years. In workshops and private lessons people are able to let go and enjoy painting.
Coffee is my muse
Artist Intention
To tempt Self Described non-painters to let go and release their first brushstroke.
The writing is on the wall.
I believe each person has a personal style. This identity can be seen in one’s handwriting. When I first started showing my coffee paintings I realized how many people would love to start painting but were stopped by fear. In witnessing this I discovered a valuable insight. People are not afraid to paint with coffee because it is not paint. This became a pathway for me to teaching others how to paint with coffee is my way to bridge the gap.
Disclaimer - I did not invent painting with coffee but I did discover it on my own while working as a barista in 1976. I loved the taste and the color and thought “Why not paint with it?”
So I did and now I call years of watercolor painting “History.”
Let’s talk about Fear.
Behind the pretty coffee painting is a self conscious introverted artist. Painting with coffee has become a perfect icebreaker for my art to be seen and to be comfortable saying “I’m an artist.“ In the process I have discovered how many
Coffee Buzz
I want my paintings to start a conversation. To tempt a Visual Dialog. An invitation to recognize something familiar in a new way. Talking about coffee comes easy to most people but the idea of painting with it opens a new way of seeing.
A funny thing I hear is “Oh no, I can’t even draw a straight line.” I am tempted to say “Well, if only you could draw a straight line then you might be able to call yourself an artist.
If I say Are you an artist? or Do you paint? I see the fireworks going off.