My paintings are acrylic on canvas with the occasional use of pen and ink. I often apply different mediums for texture which adds another dimension to the work. My subjects fall into two basic categories; farm imagery of the landscapes and animals and graphic collages which primarily depict birds. In the farm inspired paintings I emphasize bucolic rolling hills and the geometric repetition of furrowed fields. I try to capture the peaceable contented nature of farm animals. They seem to innately know how to achieve the inner peace we all seek. Birds dominate the collage paintings. I paint birds because they are special to me. They are like carriers of secret messages from other worlds.

Much of my work has a strong graphic quality which is a direct result of my former career as a graphic designer.
I approach my collage paintings from a graphic design perspective. First I establish the underlying grid which is the base of the composition. Next I choose and paint the main subject. Lastly is the addition of the collage elements. Because of my love of nature I use many natural items such as real leaves and flowers. Frequently I will incorporate antique items because they hold a hidden history that I believe absorbs into the painting. When choosing the collage elements I rely solely on creative intuition to achieve the balance and harmony of the composition.

My work is very stylized and I purposely don’t classify my art since I am influenced by several styles and art movements. The primary influences are surrealism, expressionism, and early American folk art. I refer to my paintings as “happy art”. I strive to create something that will make a person smile every day they see it.

Education
Long Island University - Southampton College | New York | B.F.A. Graphic Design | 1995

Awards
Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival | Syracuse | NY | 2009 - Award of Distinction

Cortland Arts & Wine Festival | Cortland | NY | 2009 - First Place - 2D Mixed Media and Best of Show

Uptown Art Fair | Minneapolis | MN | 2007 - Finalist

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts | Tampa | FL | 2007 - T-Shirt Design winner

Lowertown Art & Music Festival | Paducah | KY | 2007 - Juror’s Choice - Painting

St.James Court Art Festival/Belgravia Court Section | Louisville | KY | 2005 - First Place - Painting