Painting gives me a lot of pleasure. A time out from the world and a place to go dwell for a while.There is nothing quite like having a new linen canvas to begin a new painting with. Not unlike a new puppy. A clean slate with a world of opportunties ahead. Creativity is a right brain activity which allows no boundries, no limitations in creative possibilities. Quite a contrast from the high tech world I was a part of for many years. There are many things that I like about painting. It becomes an outlet for what is inside of you. Being able to capture the places, and things in life that become important parts of life experiences give special meaning to the paintings. They become a part of you. Every painting is in fact a type of self portrait.You get to know the subject intimately with each and every stroke from the brush. It is very satisfying to share a painting with someone else that is affected or moved by what they see.

When you look at a painting that makes you feel good you have the opportunity to be there, if only for just for a moment. It can be a special place that has deep personal meaning. It could be a place you like to go to watch sunrises and sunsets. It can be the place on a river where you love to just sit on a rock and take it all in. Maybe the place you go to think clearly or where you go to be alone or pray.

Most of my work is about the life that surrounds us. Artist see the world from a different perspective. To be an artist is to tune in to a different level of how you see things around you. Lighting , shapes and colors are what artists see rather than objects or things. They see little gems everywhere that others may not notice because they are wrapped up in the world of work, commitments, deadlines. There are little gold mines everywhere for those that are looking for them.

I have been very fortunate in that I live in an area that has a real active art community. We have several professional artist known both nationally and internatioanlly. I have been able to attend a few workshops with some of these artist. I've taken a plien air workshop with Dave Santillanes, another workshop with James Biggers covering landscapes and portraits and a still life workshop with Lani Vlaanderen.I have also studied with Daniel Edmondson for several months. You cant help but learn when your in a workshop enviorment with artists of their caliber.

I hope that the paintings I have done in some way creates an emotion that makes you feel good. Maybe, like a place you have been to or an experience you have had out in the field.

Enjoy

 

 

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