When I was 18 years old I decided I was going to be an artist, a painter. Even though that was 50 years ago, I’m still trying to learn how I respond to the world. Generally my work is based on the landscape. What I realized is that I have two basic approaches to the landscape. The first is wholly imaginary, image #1. The second approach is based on sitting down and responding to what I see, image #2. There are times when the two approaches blur together or share common boundaries but yet there continues to be this division between the two approaches.

My work based on observation does not attempt to render or even be all that accurate, however the space has a logical progression based on the scene. The color choices also have a logic based on what I am looking at. Although I tend to “amp up” the colors.

The work that is based on the imaginary tends to have a narrative, a kind of story, that drives the image along. These works are also much more process oriented, I’m playing around with materials and mixing up the space. I often think of them as old medieval paintings where different times, places and spaces exist within the same image.

Ultimately both approaches emphasize formal invention and an expressive tone that moves them away from being locked into landscape or scene painting. The goal of all of my work is to subvert expectations and offer a bit of a surprise to the viewer.

Sailing To Wonderment (still in progress)

2025

Mixed water-based media

Birch Trees and Jack Pines

2025

Watercolor