My How.                                                                                                                                       

I stumbled into painting as a way of passing time on a creative and fun date with my then girlfriend-turned-wife—wanting to do something out of the ordinary.   I went on to become a self-taught artist who adopted a pallet knife and a heavy texture impasto style as my way of painting.  I found this style to be forgiving, flexible, and flirtatious in coaxing the observer to work at interpreting my images. I primarily use acrylics and various media to create and compliment the thickness of my paint.  What started out as something to do as a hobby has grown into something I have to do.

My What.                                                                                                                                     

I’m drawn to images that on their own will make the viewer think twice about what's before them or would inspire them to become part of that scene. These scenes include agricultural themes that remind me of my childhood in rural Missouri, recreational fishing, and various displays of movement such as dance, in addition to still, contemplative poses. Like all painters, I paint what catches my eye and try to draw my viewers into my interpretation with vibrant colors.

My Why.

I'm inspired by my love of history combined with my sense of curiosity about the back story of any given image. This perspective allows me to be intrigued by an image like a family working in a field, observing a fisherman on the river bank, or a woman exhibiting distress. I engage all my senses to heighten my awareness of the human condition.  My mother-in-law used to have a saying, "Knock on any door" as a way of saying that the "everydayness" in the life of others and one's own life offers a full range of highs, lows, punctuated moments, and ordeals that unify and hopefully humble us all in our shared experiences.  Therefore, we need not covet or minimize the journey we see others traveling or in our own journey.   When I see something that somehow captures a small and perhaps mundane slice of life that screams for me to elevate and magnify it, I paint it.