Artist Statement

The ability to observe and appreciate natural beauty is one of life’s richest experiences. The American southwest is blessed with the worlds' most varied, unique, beautiful, and powerful landscapes. Many of these magnificent places are protected as national parks, providing unequaled locations to enjoy and paint nature at its’ finest. The western cowboy and mining history together with the rich Native American and Hispanic cultural influence adds a human built element to many areas of the landscape. This often compliments the natural beauty of the scene and adds character to the array of compositions available to the artist.
 
My paintings are a reflection of how the landscape effects my emotions. I can only paint what inpires. This can be an intimate creek-side view or a majestic moment on the rim of the Grand Canyon.  Inpiration happens and the painting begins.  I go to natural landscapes to seek peace and tranquility. These are the qualities I try  to evoke in my art. I create paintings with a soft color pallet that you can live with and can be viewed without tiring the eye.

My favorite painting locations include the Grand Canyon and particularly the Colorado River that runs through the heart of the canyon. The canyon country of southern Utah, including the butts and mesas of Monument Valley and the Glen Canyon region enchants me. Nearer to home, I enjoy painting the red rock formations surrounding Sedona, and Oak Creek that winds its way through this popular tourist destination.  Recently, I have expanded the geographic range of interest to include the central coast of California where I first started painting in 1962. My plein air painting style is somewhat more impressionistic then that used on larger studio paintings. I  paint frequently on site because this is the source of the inspiration.  I find that this plein air work enhances my ability to create more compelling studio paintings. The quest to interpret and capture the incredible variety and beauty of the Southwest landscape will never end and is worthy of the artist’s devotion and most expressive efforts.