These formative years marked a time of nascent 
exploration in the realm of my abstract art-making.  
I experimented with a variety of tools and surfaces,
as well as various methods of mark-making.  Despite
the multitude of styles that emerged from my early
investigations, a unifying element grew plainly 
evident: my innate tendency towards bright, eye-
popping colors and intricate, highly-detailed designs.
Stylistically, these works were largely influenced by
the freshness of tribal folk arts from such varied
cultures as Indian, Mexican, and Aboriginal, and
were fused with a contemporary Western energy.
These early works contain a freshness and innocence
that reflect the spirit in which they were created.