Artist Statement
"Thirty years ago, my career 'officially' began when I entered a juried show which was seen by the dealer who gave me my first solo exhibition. Since then, I have devoted my life to art and art-making with a passion which grows stronger every year. Interesting opportunities have come along allowing me to use my skills in theater, film, design, and public art projects. Teaching has kept me on my toes and provided an avenue to pass on to others— my love of the arts.
Hall, D. J. “Juror’s Statement”, 35th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Palm Springs Art Museum, February 25-math 28, 2004
"Although women have been the apparent subject matter in my work, light is the primary subject . I’ve always been fascinated with light and how it evokes a continuum of time and place. My attraction to poolside settings stems from childhood memories of summer afternoons where I briefly glimpsed a sense of family, security, and joy. Ironically, my images cannot exist in physical reality, as they are highly contrived composites of various, real and imagined sources. I approach each new painting as though I am producing a film: selecting models, wardrobe changes, locations, props, time sequences, etc. For the photo shoot, I storyboard scenarios for my models so they will project what I envision. With the resulting photos, I add, delete, and re-configure information to achieve a strong visual structure. I build a “magical” work with hyper-detail which convinces viewers to believe in its reality. Portraying the passage of time, whether in momentary or monumental increments, is an ongoing interest for me. I like to think that my pieces are a visual diary of my journey through life. My work reveals a story with themes of momentary joy, loss, and longing."
