'Mixed Media' is a term that simply says that there is more than one material used to create a painting. It could imply that there are two or more types of paint used such as watercolor and acrylic or it can mean that other materials are added to the painting surface.

Most commonly, 'Mixed Media' refers to other materials being added to the painting's surface in addition to the paint.

Many of my paintings have other materials added to the fluid acrylics or encaustics used to color the surface. I use a variety of elements (i.e. heavy-bodied mediums, sand, gesso, dyed papers, found papers, string, glass, lace or old book pages.) These are added to enhance the surface, creating a sense of mystery and history. Developing history on the painting surface is very important to me. It shows an evolutionary process. It unfolds and reveals my thought process. It makes the painting feel more "embedded" rather than "sitting" on the surface of the paper, canvas or board. My artwork is a documentation of a process that is very reflective, meditative and meaningful to me. That process need not be obvious to the viewer. This way of painting helps me express a small glimpse, whisper or fragment of my personal beliefs or thoughts.

For me, in the midst of abstraction, this way of painting is the truest of realities to me. It challenges me to dig deep within and allow voice from my internal world. Another word for my paintings would be an 'Internal Landscape' similar to what a landscape painter would produce. The difference is mine does not come from the visible world but from the invisible.

I classify my paintings as:

• 'Fluid Acrylics' or 'Acrylics' when only acrylic paint is used.
   

• 'Mixed Media' when other materials are added to the acrylics.
   

• 'Encaustics', when the primary coloring comes from encaustics, whether or not other media are used (many of my encaustic paintings are actually 'mixed media').