I am dedicated to a poetic realism in landscape painting inspired by intriguing compositions, mood and atmosphere I find in nature. My style involves carefully planned drawings, a reliance on sketches and studies painted in nature to inform studio work, and a treatment of light and atmosphere reminiscent of 19th Century artists working in the uniquely American Hudson River School and Luminist traditions. Evidence of a human presence is often absent or subordinated in my landscapes.
I sketch and paint regularly outdoors to create field studies that often focus on skies, light on the landscape, water, trees, rocks or really anything that interests me. My field work usually involves a relatively quick attempt to attain accurate color, values, and forms while seeking specificity in my scene or subject. I then refine those ideas as time permits with a focus on atmosphere and achieving depth.
My work in the studio evolves from graphite composition sketches, field studies (paintings and drawings), photographs and video shot on location. Studio paintings are generally more contemplative with carefully rendered underpaintings (often tonal) and layers of glazing to achieve a luminous mood and atmosphere. Many studio paintings are from imagination, drawing from experiences, contemplation and a sense of wonder in the landscape.