Biography

Art has been a passionof mine since I was 13 years old when I taught myself to oil painting. After receiving a BS in art with an emphasis in painting and graphic design from Murray State University, I began my career as an artist which included 14 years as a graphic designer at the Lexington Herald-Leader. Downsized from that job in 2001 freed meto concentrate on pastels and oils. I now participate in art fairs and teaching pastels to adults. My work appears in corporate collections including Owensboro Regional Hospitals, St. Joseph Hospital, UK Medical Center and hospitals in Ohio.

I’m a landscape artist using soft pastels and oils. I create images from actual places preferring to use nature’s information and inspiration for my resource. At Murray State University I trained in oils with a concentration on the figure, but as soon as I graduated in 1971, I focused exclusively on landscape. When I bought my first set of pastels for plein air sketching I was instantly hooked on the brilliance of the color, the versatility of the medium and the immediacy of the pastels.

I want my drawings to express to the viewer the peace I feel when I view this land. I paint what I see, but distill the details of nature to focus on the essence of the landscape, adjusting the color to emphasize the light and shadow. I hope the viewer connects to the sense of place that attracts me to the scene.