I have always been interested in art, and through the years have worked with sketches, pen and ink drawings and calligraphy. I have been fortunate to have lived and worked in Europe for over 10 years which has allowed me to further my interest in art by visiting many of Europe’s best galleries and museums. In the mid-1990s, while living in England, I started art classes taught by Brian Gallagher. My initial work was with pastels, but moved quickly to watercolors which allowed me to explore new approaches in my art. In 2007, I started working in oils, which has allowed for a level of detail more in keeping with my style and provided further opportunities to experiment with color and contrast.
I have also enjoyed photography, and through my work and travel experiences, I have always looked for photo opportunities. I generally use photos as reference for studio work and rather than try to specialize in one area, I try to choose photos for art projects that have an interesting composition and/or present an artistic challenge for me. I also enjoy Plein Aire painting and have taken lessons from Christine Lashley.
In 2005, I participated in a two-man art show in England at the Cork Street Gallery in London, where I displayed and sold watercolors. I have also participated in a two-man art show in Alexandria, VA, in 2012. My work has been bought by individuals throughout the US, as well as in England, the Netherlands, South Africa and Japan.
In September 2014, I received an award for my entry into the Contemporary Realism show at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria. In 2015, I was accepted for membership in the International Guild of Realism, and have been juried into the 10th , 11th , 14th 15th and 17th and 18th International Guild of Realism Exhibitions held at various galleries in the US.
I now live in Montana and love the beautiful scenery and opportunity to explore the painting opportunities here.
