End/Begin, 32" x 24", acrylic on canvas, 1987. Artist's collection.

One of the most reverent and sobering rules (there are several) associated with creating proper non-objective abstract expressionist works is that none of the unconsciously applied brushstrokes should suggest a reference to a literal form. If an abstract expressionist artist had been unconsciously painting away for an hour and stepped back to discover his composition looked exactly like a rabbit, that would be a very unfortunate and sobering realization. I remember fighting off the "rabbits", "dogs", and "horses" in this painting. This was a hard won victory on the non-objective abstract expressionist front of my creative interest and desire. This painting succeeds in terms of the objective I had set for myself up to this point in my foray into abstract expressionism. However, I sensed my intuitive objectives were broadening (again). I had the sense that abstract expressionism was not a means to an end, but more of a right of passage on a path to my deeper identity as an artist.