My figure drawings express the sheer fun of drawing.  My lifelong quest in drawing has been to develop a fluid line and an expressive, spontaneous stroke.  I especially like figure drawing, because of the human figure's sensuous forms and the life and energy it brings as a subject to the act of drawing.  My figure drawings always begin with live models.  Whether attracted by form, movement, or expression, I begin with media that are swift and sensual, and work quickly to capture the figure.  For both female and male figures, I like to emphasize the musculature or sensuality of the figure with interesting line and shading.  With female figures, I often abstract forms from the major shapes of the body; these generally turn into either line drawings or abstract paintings.  I often draw my figures over painted backgrounds or collage to add rich colors or textures to traditional drawing media like graphite or colored pencil.  The stylistic inspiration for my figure drawings and paintings comes from powerful Renaissance realists like Michaelangelo, and modern masters of sensuality like Gauguin, Klimt, Matisse, Degas, and Van Gogh.  Contemporary drawing has taken many new directions, but figure drawing adapts and retains its timeless appeal.