I'm a self-taught artist who is drawn to the abstract. I prefer art that doesn’t simply say ‘here’s a bowl of pears,’ but which allows the viewer to deduce the subject and its hidden meanings . . . and bring his or her own interpretation to the piece. My view of art was clearly influenced by my legal training. The law makes you look at things from several different angles -- you begin to question a subject, rather than accepting it at face value. Similarly, I think art requires scrutiny to be truly appreciated.