Artist Statement

Everyday I am amazed by the natural beauty around me. I carry a camera everywhere I go just in case I see a cool sky or a new way shadows form from the mountains or landscapes around. Living in Northern California affords me the opportunity to see, paint and photograph fantastic sunsets, huge redwoods, snowy mountains and colorful seascapes. I also travel quite a bit and wherever I go, from the East Coast to Canada or Hawaii, I photograph solely for the purpose of painting. Painting from my studio in San Ramon, I start with the photos I need for a particular painting and draw directly onto the canvas. I take thousands of photos a year and there’s probably just one in every one or two thousand that is just right for the composition for a painting, and even then I’ll use dozens more and a lot of creative adlibbing for my initial sketches. I draw directly onto the canvas and then begin with an acrylic under-painting as a base color. Then, using a series of different techniques from light washes to dry brushing, I begin to detail the painting. I will also use glazing techniques and thickening compounds to get the desired effects needed for a particular look. Final details are applied with a very fine detail brush where the tree branches, highlights, clouds and small waves come to life. I love the details and look for subjects that will challenge me every time I paint.