The Artist

For me, the painting experience is always intuitive. There have certainly been frustrations and periods of hard work studying and attempting to make breakthroughs. But overall it is a joyful experience, and a blessing in my life. I hope the viewer can feel the pleasure I take in painting. At its very best, it becomes a dialogue between the piece and me, as the art spirit informs me of each step. The most wonderful results come from this experience of process, where I am more observer than director. Art for me is very personal and spiritual.  I strive to bring something fresh and new to my process every day.

I am originally from Columbia, SC, though I have spent most of my life in Richmond. I studied art and art history at Virginia Commonwealth University. That first love was put aside for a career in IT and raising a family. After 25 years, I was finally able to paint full time. I have been showing my work around VA since 1990. In 2006 I moved to Lake Gaston in southern Virginia.

Over time, I move from objective to nonobjective, from still life to landscape. I don’t try to box my creative energies. I try to remain open and allowing the creativity to flow easily. I am endlessly curious, and love to experiment. In the past I have been primarily an oil/acrylic painter. This year I have begun to paint with encaustics (hot bees wax) and plan to continue in that direction. As for subject matter, I am finding a pleasing balance between non-objective (abstract) and figure works.