Stepping into the Mystic is an exhibit of recent oil paintings completed on location and in my studio in El Rito, New Mexico. What is special about this group is their looseness and vibrancy. I think of this body of work as my first Step into the Mystic - a more spiritual response - a more intuitive response - a more joyful and playful response. It’s a place that I have painted years to get to. I hope the enjoyment I experienced creating these paintings emanates out to the viewer. All of the paintings are based on locations in El Rito or flowers from my garden. Paintings that began as plein air paintings often took their step into the mystic in the studio where I later painted from memory. Other paintings came to life after I put the photo reference away and painted from intuition and play.