In my abstract work, I harness the chemical reactions between oil and water to create organic effects. Typically, I paint on plywood because canvas will not hold up to the wet techniques and resin that I use. One day I bought some new birch plywood, and when I prepared to prime a particularly fabulous piece, I realized that the grain of the wood was too lovely to ignore. That lovely piece of birch led me to experiment with different woods and use the grain as part of the composition.