I was born and raised along the Columbia river in Washington state, and ever since I was a child I have loved to sit for hours to draw and paint. I remember that I always loved to show my young drawings to my father, especially, because he was so complementary and encouraging. During those growing years I would also enter various art contests, and win a few awards, which boosted my confidence in my abilities and helped me stay engaged. And like most artists, I’ve had instructors all along the way that taught me a lot and had much to offer.
I saw the most growth in my painting ability during my college years. My instructors were fantastic artists that really knew their craft. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, I spent about 7 years drawing and painting full-time with a major focus on anatomy for college-level medical textbooks. I actually have co-authorship on several titles with McGraw Hill Publishers. During this time I also had the opportunity to teach figure drawing and design at the same university I had attended--a truly great honor.
The next several years found me painting only occasionally while I pursued a career in 3D computer graphics as co-founder and owner of Zygote Media Group and then DAZ Productions.
Very recently I retired from my career in the corporate world and I am now climbing back in the saddle, or stepping up to the plate, as a full-time artist. I’m so excited to be able to give my full efforts to watercolor painting with occasional small breaks to do some figure sculpting which I also find very rewarding.
The subject matters that draw my attention and passion most are Jesus Christ, children and other figures in nature. In the majority of my detailed watercolor paintings, I am enthralled with the concept of hiding elements that interact with the overall theme of each painting. Creating the puzzle inside the painting is a challenge that is truly gratifying to me. And I enjoy the rewarding outcome of watching both children and adults, families working together, trying to find all the hidden treasures.
I’m hoping that viewers of my art will enjoy my paintings first for what they are, and then be captivated by the underlying, less obvious objects. I aim to leave them with an enthusiastic desire to then share their discoveries with their family and friends.
It’s interesting for me that the older I get the more I look back on my youth with fondness. I thoroughly enjoy those early memories of exploring the outdoors, raising animals and spending time with my family; I want to share and convey these special moments in my paintings. Ultimately, my hope with my art is to lift the soul and remind all people to find joy in the fleeting moments and then to challenge themselves to help those around them do the same. I wish you all well on the journey!
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