Biography
While my formative years began in the Bay Area, from then on they were spent exploring the vast, untamed wilderness that surrounded my family's ten wooded acres just beyond the city limits of Bellingham, Washington. I found myself captivated by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, particularly the ever-changing and tempestuous skies that loomed overhead. It was this early fascination with the heavens that sparked my lifelong practice of sky-watching, a discipline that has become a central inspiration for my artistic endeavors.
Throughout my years at Western Washington University, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art, I was privileged to study under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Thomas Schlotterback and Tom Sherwood, both of whom played a pivotal role in shaping my artistic vision and aesthetic sensibilities.
After a decade spent working in various managerial positions, I finally found the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the world of art, dedicating myself to the pursuit of my passion on a professional level. Today, I am proud to call the vibrant artistic community of Portland, Oregon my home, drawing inspiration from the stunning natural landscapes and dynamic cultural milieu that surrounds me.
Artist Statement
My artistic practice is an act of introspection, a contemplative exploration of the profound beauty and complexity of the natural world as seen through the lens of my own experiences. The rugged and tempestuous landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, with their striking terrain and ever-shifting skies, have left an indelible impression on my consciousness, serving as a constant source of awe and inspiration.
While I initially draw upon the visual stimuli of plein-air sketches, photographs, and memory to begin each piece, I soon surrender to the intuitive and spontaneous impulses that guide my creative process. Themes, forms, and compositions emerge organically, with landscapes and trees in particular serving as recurring motifs in my work.
Rather than striving for a mere facsimile of the physical world, my aim is to capture the essence of each scene, to distill its spiritual and emotional energy through the interplay of color, light, shape, and space. My art is a deeply personal expression of the myriad complexities of the human condition, a visual testament to the full spectrum of human emotion, from the tender nostalgia of reminiscence to the poignant yearning of loneliness, and from the unbridled potential of promise to the quiet peace of being.