The changing light of day and the moods it creates are the foundations of my paintings. My pieces usually start with a fundamental sketch, an underpainting, and then the application of color with an emphasis on value, temperature, and harmony. Painting is a synthesis of my personal feelings of the subject that inspires me. My interest in art began in college when I was studying biology and I found myself sketching all the animals in my text book. Like most kids, I loved to sketch and draw, but I spent most of my time involved in sports and enjoying the outdoors. After one of my friends submitted one of my pieces to the art department at Grand Canyon University where I started college, I was shocked when I was offered a partial but significant art scholarship! I never did accept that scholarship. Instead I enlisted in the army and spent the next two and a half years in Italy. The scenery around me was beautiful and remained in my mind long after I returned home. I returned to college, this time at the State University of New York at Geneseo, where I completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. After completing my Master's Degree in Secondary Education, I became an educator for the next 35 years, and I painted occasionally. I frequently incorporated art into my science lessons, which helped my students understand the content more easily. After I retired in 2015, my passion for art was rekindled, and I have been painting full time ever since, both in and out of my studio.
Active Member of...
- Adirondack Pastel Society
- Arts Center of Yates County
- Greater Rochester Plein Air Painters
- Pastel Society of America
- Pastel Society of Western New York
- Signature Member of the Rochester Art Club