Artist Statement
My artistic influences started from the time I was a child growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Every morning I walked down to breakfast past the art of masters like Picasso, Calder, Georgia O'Keefe, and Thomas Hart Benton. Edward Hopper, Robert Indiana, Hieronymus Bosch, and Salvador Dali showed me what different statements art could make. The Hudson River School artists showed me how to paint the light and magnificence of this earth.
When I discover an ancient truck, a barn, or a grain bin, I dream about the history and family story that lies within its old bones. To me, these machines and structures are as much a part of the Montana landscape as the crops in the field. These vehicles and historic structures represent man and his connection to the land.
I am fascinated by the animals of the farm and ranch as well. I love to observe the rhythms of nature every spring when the calves arrive and the crops are planted. I know this cycle has happened for generations. These creatures are part of the landscape too. Through the subject matter, I choose to paint, I tell the story of past and present rural Montana.
My eyes never stop panning the landscape for a subject to paint. As I compose a painting, I borrow elements from different scenes to satisfy my own aesthetic. Though I paint old objects in the landscape, my goal is to create art that is contemporary.
When you look at my paintings, I invite you to feel the heat of the Montana sun on your back. See the intensity of color and light that is unique to this climate. Sit in front of my work and savor this distinct time; feel a sense of place…a place that you want to linger in again and again.