I truly enjoy painting still lifes and landscapes,
but painting animals is my passion. The greatest joy an artist
can receive is to capture the personality, the moment in time,
and the facial expressions that only one who loves animals can
understand. In a portrait, I find the eyes are the heart and soul
into telling an animal's story.
I prefer strong bold colors and a warm palette to convey my message.
A larger variety of reds, oranges, and yellows will always be found
somewhere in my work. for me, these colors are warm and exciting
— much like the wildlife I love to study. I consider myself very
traditional, but I also try to keep a loose sense of edges and
broad range of values by using strong highlights. Even though the
majority of my subjects usually require working from a collection
of photographs in my studio, nothing compares to the joy of painting
on location.
"...What could be more beautiful or inspiring to someone
holding a paintbrush than being able to use all their senses as
they work? The truth in art for me can only be seen outdoors on
God's canvas."
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