I am primarily a self taught artist, having  painted most of my life with little instruction.  In the past six years I have decided to devote most of my time to developing my art by painting daily and taking workshops.  I have had some sporadic formal training, taking individual courses at Virginia Commonwealth University in years past including some paintning classes taught by Frank Cole.  I have expanded my training with plein air oil workshops with David Lussier and Pam Simpson as well as watercolor workshops with Warren Taylor, Frank Francese, Don Andrews and Gerald Brommer, and acrylic classes with Vera Dickerson.  While primarily a realist, I have devoted more of my time recently to abstract art, usually combining abstract and realism together in the same piece.

   My paintings are usually very personal, reflecting memories or ideas, or a scene or object that elicits a reaction in me.  This may be the result of the scene iteself, an object, or even a color, and how objects and places affect me.  The effect of light on a scene, the placement of an object or the color of an area or object may remind me of something, or simply evokes a satisfying reaction.  Hopefully, the emotions these scenes and objects evoke in me are transferred to others who see my paintings.