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.