PRACTICE

I’m a native of the Western New York/Finger Lakes region and a a life-long oil painter. I’ve maintained a studio and plein air practice since 1981. My work is based on the landscape I inhabit. I’m currently focused on the energy and complexity of nature: light, wind, skies, trees, moving water, and ice. I’m excited by finding bold movement and natural structure together in one place.

A juror recently described my paintings as “more theater than film,” and I like that notion. I seek visual drama. I paint en plein air to feel the place and atmosphere. In the studio, I develop that work by upscaling and using different materials including encaustic wax, mixed media, and drawing.

INSPIRATION

The glacial terrain of western New York; the hills, vineyards, and waters of the Finger Lakes region; and the seasonal dynamics of Lake Ontario are my main subjects. I live on the Lake Ontario shoreline and see its changes every day. This saturated exposure to the lake and skies challenges my observation skills and creative choices.  

MEDIA: OILS, ENCAUSTIC WAX, GRAPHITE

My studio includes oil and encaustic wax work stations. There, I reimagine my plein air works by upscaling and expanding media choices and sometimes drift off into the fantasy of remembered places.

The qualities of oil paint align with how I think, and I love the look, feel and smell of the paint. When I’m not using oils I’m into pigmented beeswax.

Painting with encaustic wax engages my heart and head because it calls for balancing aesthetic choices with managing the science of the wax. Beeswax also smells wonderful. My encaustic works are made with direct painting, layering, building, carving, inlay, and mixed media. The wax itself inspires ideas as heat and flame bring control and surprise to every painting. I experiment and push the properties of the wax, engaging in new conversations that come with each piece.

Simple drawing with graphite is my go-to choice when I need a reset or want to try new ideas.