My work is the result of creating order out of confusion. The challenge in starting with an unplanned idea is finding balance in an ever-changing composition. The excitement of the emerging composition propels the work forward using the consistency of line and, often circular, shape to achieve the desired visual stability. There is an awareness on my part that I'm creating an environment or escapes to other places in my work. These images require intense concentration, so much so, that when a piece is completed it is as though I'm returning from an extended trip to another place and time. My studio is my loyal friend, always there, where most things eventually make sense. I am in charge, in control, for better or worse. The colors, smells, the work, both mess and order, are all a part of me, all contribute to my being an artist.

- Deborah Friedman