ARTIST STATEMENT

I feel that I am a very influenced type of person. People in my life have always had an effect on me in some way. I admire artists that create art from the experiences they have. Experiences can be fleeting. The same can be said with color and light. When I paint I try to capture those fleeing impressions I get. That can be anything from a certain color effect or to the expression on a models face.

I look at what I do as a betterment of self. Every time I paint I learn something and get better at it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I would rather have a lifelong pursuit, than be complacent in the work I do. I believe it should help me grow as a person. My dream is to live a life totally dedicated to art. A lifelong pursuit of my own artistic vision.

My subject matter lately has been mostly of females, mostly my wife Karen. I couldn’t get a better model. Somebody that I am spending my life with. I can’t help not to let my thoughts and feelings poor out into the paintings I do of her. My painting style can best be described as Impressionistic Realism. Influences come from Sargent, Henri, Bellows, and Fechin. When I do paintings of Karen or friends of mine, I paint very directly. I like my mark making to be very apparent in the finished painting. A painting that looks real but you can tell clearly that it is painted is my goal.

I love and I mean I LOVE how paint feels against surfaces. Thick, thin, heavy, Impasto, dry brushed, scumbled, exct. I can’t get enough of it. When I went to art school, teachers (such as Neil Riley and Charles Hall) were very effective in helping me have a good understanding in drawing. Also, my teacher, Michael McEwan, turned me on to contemporary artists like Richard Schmid. After school, I have made a pursuit in good drawing and technical ability so that I may give compelling expression to my thoughts, feelings, and ideas.