Inspiration

I grew up with a love for the outdoors—beginning with childhood campouts in the Michigan woodlands and an adolescence spent in Hawaii and on the west Florida coast.  

As an adult, I’ve explored the natural beauty of Louisiana and Texas…from the lakes, rivers and swamps to the magnificence of Palo Duro Canyon.  To me, a leaf, a canyon or the shadow cast by a branch represent peace… beauty… spirituality. 

Dramatic contrasts appeal to me.  Like the challenges in life, a brightly illuminated object brought forward from shadow is made more beautiful by the contrast.  Light and dark.  Radiate and retreat.  Yin and yang.  One balances the other.

Techniques

My roots are in traditional, classical oil painting, but I have evolved my process into a dance of its own, depending on my mood.  I start with an idea or what I’m feeling, then search for images that inspire me. 

I work from one or more photos as a resource, then paint/sketch the image onto canvas for position and begin painting.  Background to foreground, thin layers to thick, adding darks & lights, back & forth until the right balance is achieved.  

I just love how oil paints behave, respond, blend and move on the canvas.  I can get lost in creating the dappled coat of a horse, the brindle pattern of a longhorn or how sunlight flirts with water.   I spend about 40-80 hours on each painting, so I make strong connections to the painting… I feel it.  When I stand back and look at a finished work, I hope that the viewer will feel a connection of their own too.

Career highlights

From my earliest memories, I was an introvert who enjoyed drawing, doodling & sketching everything I saw around me when I was alone.

Drawing provided a constant respite for me as I moved, changing cities and schools frequently growing up. I continued drawing as a hobby through school, attended college with a business major & fine art minor.