The quiet rural beauty that I see on a daily basis both inspire and energize me to create my oil paintings. I am happy and so lucky to live in an area that has so many natural features to choose from. Farmlands, wetlands, deep woods, and river landscapes are my everyday inspiration. The Huron River area provides me with an endless supply of beautiful scenery from which to choose in my search for dramatic light, color and that essential sense of movement in a painting.

I work in a fairly traditional way, beginning with a simple charcoal sketch on linen, then build up the layers slowly, using a transparent glazing process. Painting this way enables me to obtain that wonderful luminous quality that oil paint is known for. If a photo reference is used, I will use it in the beginning to get the proportions correct on the canvas, then use my memory and feelings for the subject to carry out the remainder of the painting. I especially enjoy interpreting those vague, mysterious horizon lines and edges that emerge with the occasional crisp line.