Nature has always been the greatest inspiration for my paintings. I feel so grateful to be living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the variety of themes it brings to my work. I hope that those who view my artwork are uplifted in some way and perhaps feel the same connection with nature as I felt when painting. I am also grateful that I grew up n a family that encouraged pursuing creative expression from an early age. My mother was an artist and so was my grandfather. I starting drawing at the age of four and took my first oil painting classes at the age of fifteen. I enjoy painting many different subject matter including landscapes, animals, dream images, metaphysical art, as well as abstracts. It has been exciting to experiment with various art mediums through the years and my favorites are oils and alcohol inks. I studied art at Cottey College (Nevada, MO), The University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN), and the Atelier (Minneapolis, MN). Individual instruction under the guidance of master teacher and artist CeCeile Hartleib was a turning point in my artistic career in 1996 when I met her. We spent many years going outside together painting en plein-air and I traded picture framing (I had a framing business at the time) for her critiques. Eventually I moved to Santa Fe, NM and started painting large sunsets of the New Mexico skies that were filled with magnificent beauty. I also exhibited extensively while living there in galleries and shows. In 2010 it was again time for a change and I moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina where I continue to be inspired by the beauty around me as well as show my art in galleries and teach painting lessons and workshops. Thank you for viewing my art!
