I’ve always been fascinated with the natural world. I particularly love the water, the trees and the birds and animals that share our life. I have a deep sense of the interconnection of all living things. I notice the beauty of the people I meet every day. I see their fragility and courage. Using my background in science and math, I endeavor to employ my images of water, creeks, vineyards, fields, and wildlife to hint at larger themes of our common human experience.

The science part of me loves facts but I realize that the way our brains make sense of things is with narrative. Think of dreams. We make up stories to process and understand our experiences. My art tells visual stories, my own and whatever the viewer brings to it.

I use the image of an empty boat to represent ourselves, our souls as we journey through life. Sometimes the boat is tethered , or adrift, maybe the oars are missing…

sometimes it’s a lovely sailboat crewed with people I’ve met, or from my life. For example, I made a painting for my 60 th birthday with yellow sails on a slightly turbulent sea. I stuffed that boat with my “crew” my family and dear friends that I travel with through life. At other times , a boat is just a sailboat, an expression of freedom and joy.

I love to paint the water most of all. There are others more technical apt than me but what Im after is the feeling of the water, what memories or emotions it evokes. The large scale format allows me to get a full arm movement on the canvas in a way smaller paintings don’t allow.

I often use music as a conduit. To keep my place if I’ve stopped to speak with someone.