House as symbol
Abandoned, derelict houses have always captured my imagination. A long time ago I was sure they were haunted, and I still believe that haunted houses are possible. When I walk into a house, I feel it has a soul, and an aura—of vibrant life, warmth, or serenity—or of melancholy, unrest, or foreboding. In dreams, the House is the archetype of the Self, with the rooms representing aspects of the Self. The anthropomorphic qualities of the house have been the focus in many genres of creative expression; to name a few: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Edward Hopper’s Haskell’s House, and Charles Addams’ many drawings of the Addams Family house. Houses go through changes as they age, so most of my house paintings are also about the passage of time.
