I like to walk or hike in open lands and natural areas to paint, a pursuit which goes back to childhood. In nature, I am cognizant of time's passage both small-scale and large, and our place in the universe. These concepts inform the painting, which for me represents an exploration to find deeper truths beyond the superficial.
Often I look in secluded corners of nature for unconventional, unexpected compositions or surprising plays of light. I'm more attracted to the quiet and intimate than I am to the flashy and dramatic. While authentically depicting natural forms, my painting is also a metaphor for states of mind and feeling, a rumination upon mortality, and a celebration of life.
I am gratified when people view my work, react to it, and sometimes acquire it. Hung on a wall in good light, it may be enjoyed as not only a decorative object to lift one's spirits, but as a catalyst for contemplation and memory.
Keep in mind that when you view reproductions of paintings, such as on this website, you are only getting half of the experience compared with seeing the actual painting in person.
The size of the work, for instance, has much to do with its impact; the three-dimensional brush strokes and textures become apparent, as do the subtleties of tones and colors, which don't always come across in a photograph.
Some people are reluctant to visit an artist's studio or an art gallery for fear they might feel obliged to buy something and feel awkward if they don't. Visiting my studio, you need not feel obligated in any way. On the contrary, I am delighted when people look at my paintings even if they have no intention of purchasing.
Painting is a form of communication, and paintings should be seen by others. The painting is a kind of dialog between me and the viewer. How do you respond to it? Do you like it?