 Sky, Land and Water 18" x 24 |
 Waning Light 11" x 14 |
 Coastal Cove and Evening Light 24" x 36" |
|
I have always been an artist at heart. From a very young age, I have
scribbled, drawn, painted and sculpted... instinctively compelled to
create something from nothing.
My "formal" training began with my study of art in high school. I
went on to complete two years at Missouri Southern State University
in 1974 with an art major. While I established a career outside the
art field, I was compelled to continue studying art in my spare
time, experimenting with different styles and techniques. In 1986, I
committed to an art career by attending the San Francisco Art
Institute, which had a positive influence on me as both a person and
an artist. But my paintings from that era reflect a painful arsenal
of artistic ideas manifested from living in San Francisco and
attending the Art Institute.
It was not until I moved to Sonoma County in 1993 that I
rediscovered my early love of the natural world. I now explore the
beauty and power of landscape painting using the unspoiled Northern
California countryside as my primary subject.
What I try to convey through my painting is not just a visual
rendering of nature, but an evocation of the mystery and renewal
that nature communicates to us. As an earth advocate, I hope to
provide a more intimate understanding and appreciation of the
natural world through my art.
I choose to work in oil, carrying on—with
great respect—the
classical tradition established by the Renaissance masters. My
paintings have been referred to as realism, but that term does not
capture the most vital aspect of my work. My paintings seek to evoke
a deep emotional response from the viewer. Working from detailed
notes and sketches, I translate the essence of each scene's mood
onto canvas—fog
nestled atop an oak-studded valley, morning sunlight fingering
across an inland marsh, afternoon shadows lengthening through
coastal brush—passing
each experience's vital energy on to the viewer. It is this
emotional power that motivates my painting.
Finally, a major intention of my work is to continue the tradition
of art as a powerful medium of communication in our society.
Throughout history, art has been used as an instrument to inform,
entertain and inspire. The goal of my art is to bring us into a
personal dialogue with nature at a critical time for our society's
relationship with the Earth. I wish to communicate the continuity
and timelessness of the natural world, while reminding us of the
perfection we can experience through nature in the present moment.
By eliciting these elevated emotions, my goal is to inspire a desire
to preserve it both for ourselves and future generations.
Memberships
Oil Painters of America
Museum of Modern Art
Valley of the Moon Art Association
Sonoma County Art Association
Sonoma Museum of Visual Art |
