Fireworks 3, 02/2025, Watercolor/Acrylic, 18”x24” inches

I’m drawn to graphic, photographic, and mechanical devices for their powerful ability to convey visual elements. These paintings are, in essence, photographs of fireworks, though not in the literal sense. The images are sourced from actual photographs, then translated into stencils, and finally rendered as watercolor paintings. They are not paintings of photographs, but rather paintings and photographs of fireworks. This approach reflects my belief that the artist functions, in a physical sense, like a camera, perceiving visual phenomena and transforming them into media. In this case, watercolor on paper serves as the output. The comparison of the brain to a darkroom is a simple yet fitting analogy, and the realm of artistic media remains vast and open. I resist assigning a fixed meaning to these works. The images stir emotions and ideas in me, and I hope they evoke a similar response in others. - R.B.

I am a visual artist living in Portland, Maine, where I’ve made my home for the past 37 years. My journey in the visual arts began in childhood and is the central pursuit of my life. I was raised in a creative environment surrounded by artists of all kinds. Though my parents were not artists, they valued the arts as essential to a rich and fulfilling life. That early exposure shaped my path, leading me to undergraduate and graduate studies in the visual arts. My commitment to making art has remained a constant and vital part of my daily experience while working and raising a family. My influences are wide-ranging, and the content of my work is drawn from many sources. I find inspiration in nature, historical reference, and moments of unexpected discovery that come through the steady practice of art-making. Over the years, my work has remained rooted in the traditions of drawing, painting, and sculpture, while also exploring alternative approaches. I’m drawn to graphic, photographic, and mechanical modes of visual expression, and have welcomed these influences into my practice. While my work is diverse, my goal remains: to find a unified voice through varied means. The search continues.