Most of my paintings contain words.   Sometimes they are clearly visible—lines of text tucked into the layers of collage where a viewer might notice them after a moment of looking. Other times they are partly covered by paint or paper. And sometimes they disappear entirely beneath the botanical forms that eventually become the focus of the piece.   Even when those words are invisible in the finished artwork, they remain essential to the painting.   Over the years I have gathered a small library of quotes that travel with me into the studio. They are thoughts about risk-taking, living a creative life, and the role [...]