Artist Statement

As a painter working primarily in watercolor and acrylics, I create art first and foremost to please myself. I paint the subjects, scenes, and moments that capture my interest and spark joy or amusement—the play of light on a landscape, the quirky humor in everyday life, the vibrant chaos of nature, or the quiet emotion of a solitary figure. If others find pleasure, connection, or a smile in my work, that’s a wonderful bonus, but it’s not the driving force.

My background includes years as a plein air painter immersed in Colorado’s dynamic landscapes, where the ever-shifting light, textures, and moods keep me returning to the easel. I also spent decades as a cartoonist, sharpening my eye for satire, exaggeration, and the absurd through editorial cartoons published in outlets like the Boulder Daily Camera, Colorado Springs Independent, and The Maverick Observer. That cartooning foundation still infuses my paintings with a sense of wit and personality, even in quieter pieces.

Before art became my full focus, I worked as a tilesetter—a trade that taught me to appreciate pattern, texture, and the tactile satisfaction of building something layer by layer. Those hands-on lessons carry over into how I approach a canvas: building mood and atmosphere through bold color, expressive brushwork, and deliberate composition rather than chasing photographic precision.

I prioritize emotional truth over literal accuracy—evoking a feeling, a memory, or a laugh rather than rendering every detail perfectly. Whether capturing the golden chaos of a breakfast scene, the surreal abundance of a harvest landscape, the quiet solitude of a snowy lifeguard tower, or the whimsical energy of a child at play, my goal is to respond honestly to what moves me and share that vision with heart and humor.

In the end, these paintings are records of my own delight in the world around me. I hope they invite viewers to pause, see something familiar in a new light, and perhaps feel a little of that same pleasure.