artist statement

I paint, sketch, and photograph while out in nature. Sitting in a redwood forest or by a stream is a sensory experience—seeing, hearing, touching, and “feeling” the site. The overall atmosphere is enriching to my being. I look for the unusual and odd and hope that my artwork will flow and develop from my memories. Nature is complex and confusing and this feeds my being. I tend not to simplify but look towards recording the confusion and leaving mental room for imagination and discoveries.

I come back into the studio and print out images. I usually work with more than one photograph and compose, loosely, from images what I will paint. I might finish a sketch or do a large watercolor before beginning an oil painting.

Redwood trees have been and still are of special interest. The story of logging is a brutal one in our history and remnants of that past define our parks and trails. My goal is to enjoy and protect nature, public spaces, lakes, rivers, and forests. I hope to tempt people to visit the places I paint so they will feel that connection to nature. We need the public to treasure and protect these unspoiled places so that they will survive to inspire and fulfill the need for nature in all of us.