In the early 1970’s, color photography was not accepted within fine art circles, yet I was intrigued with its potential and began making color photograms to learn more about light, time, color, and photographic materials. This was exploratory work and I stretched the limits using multiple exposures, movement, the Sabattier Effect, and gooey organic materials which I left in contact with unexposed color paper for long periods of time to see what would result. The experience was invaluable and has had a tremendous influence on my subsequent work. It also resulted in my first one-person exhibition which was at the Laguna Art Museum in 1974.

The following year I began working with Cibachrome creating documentary photograms and surreal multiple image prints that incorporated camera images and photograms. Around this time the Museum of Modern Art in New York gave its stamp of approval to color photography with the Eggleston exhibit and Lucas Samaras produced his amazing manipulated SX-70 Polaroid’s. Meanwhile I continued to explore alternative applications of color photography by drawing on film, altering print surfaces, and using diverse multiple image and cameraless techniques to address the nature of photographic representation, media exploitation, along with social, political, and environmental issues.

In the 1980’s I began to work extensively with light painting often producing mural sized images. I used Ilfochrome Deluxe Glossy print paper because the prints had a depth and radiance that was similar in feeling to that of actual light. I thoroughly enjoyed the physicality of the process and relished the spontaneity of painting with light in the dark—completely dependent upon my instincts without the opportunity to scrutinize and alter the results like traditional painters. During this period, I continued to make documentary photograms of books, my newborn son, and Olympic objects—including a Buick, the official car of the 1984 Olympics. I also began numerous collaborative projects that produced multi-image contiguous strip photographs, videos, mixed-media pieces, sculptures, evolving installations, and performances.