I began with a 7' x 4' x 5/8" thick MDF board (Medium Density Fiberboard - which is a composite panel composed of cellulosic fibers, usually wood, made by dry forming and pressing of a resinated fiber mat. This product is easy to cut, less sanding and there is little warping.) and had the home center cut it into 3 strips, two at 16" in width and the middle panel 17". After coming up with a template for the shape of the screen, I drew it onto the panels and cut out the design with a jig saw. Originally, I had thought of cutting a circle out from the center panel. I knew I wanted a portal-like image but I wasn't sure if I wanted it to be a literal interpretation by removing the circle or done visually with paints. Thus I decided to wait, knowing it could be removed later without much trouble if the design dictated such. The panels were sanded and then primed with a stain blocking primer.

I decided to do a double sided screen. The front design was going to be more detailed and defined while the reverse side, using the same color palette, would be less tangible and the principle design would be within a horizontal strip.

I sketched out a rough design for the front three panels. Using acrylic paints, I began filling in the background. Since some of the design incorporated geometric shapes, I used low tack painter's tape to easily achieve the straight lines.

I then approached the piece from the bottom up and one element at a time. There were four primary elements - bird of paradise plant - the cheetah - the fortress - and geometric shapes.


As the piece developed, I decided I wanted the "portal" to be visual. This was achieved by creating the daylight portion of the fortress within a circle.

Working in large scale required me to periodically step back from the painting to see if the curves, shadowing, etc. were in proper perspective. I found this extremely important when working on the cheetah's dots. Initially, I discovered I was not contouring them accurately and so I needed to move back and forth more frequently.

For the back panels, I used the acrylics more like watercolors. I decided the background would be void of design, allowing the horizontal strip to splash against the white.

Finally, I clear coated the screen. For the front, I foam brushed a satin finish polyurethane and on the back used a satin water based clear coat. The reason for using two types of finishes was two-fold. I prefer the satin finish of the polyurethane over the polycrylic® but being an oil based product it would leave a yellowish tint when brushed over light colors. (The polycrylic®, although it is a satin finish, has a more glossy sheen to it.) Since the back panels were primarily white, it was essential to use a water-based clear coat to prevent yellowing. Two coats were applied to each panel.

I decided to have the screen fold in an accordion fashion and used three hinges equally spaced to join each panel.

"Tear Lines"

Settle into the world defined by edges
And find the ordain.
Tear out of the definition
And fine the ecstasy.

The front panels mingle intriguing images, all having curious definitions which question the ordinary.
The cheetah, with its distinguishing markings of black running from the amber eyes to the corners of the mouth are referred to as "tear lines", is a wonder. Looking a bit out of proportion, with a large chest, long legs, streamline torso and small head, this cat is built for speed and can go nose to bumper with any vehicle on the freeway.

Up from the fertile ground blossoms an evergreen that sprouts the unexpected. Appropriately named for its visual display, the bird of paradise or crane flower's beak-like pods break open exposing a colorful spiky collection which resemble feathery head-plumes of exotic birds.

Over many celestial bodies rising and setting, the fortress is cut from its encasement, like a chick emerging from its shell. This depiction pays homage to the centuries old feats of engineering wizardry that speckle the globe.

Abstractly, the back panels (below) continue to explore the central theme - stepping beyond the ordinary.


Dimensions: 6'8" x 50"

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