If I can bring a sense of stillness, remove the viewer from all distraction, if only for a moment, than I feel I’ve succeeded as not just an artist, but as a person. The most important influence in my life, as a young artist, came from my time under the tutelage of geometric abstractionist William Martin Jean. His belief that art is an expression of one’s experiences and personal reflections–a spiritual journey that only I can uniquely describe–became the foundation of my work and my life. With his and my family’s support, I gained acceptance into the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Art. But only after a year, the financial realities of life forced a shift in my priorities. I ended up shelving my artistic ambitions, my ideals, and–in some ways–my soul for over 30 years. I traded my opportunity of an education in the arts for a successful career. And while art remained a quieted passion in my life, it’s only recently that I decided to pursue it full time, to follow my heart and feed my soul again, becoming the artist I was meant to be. Inspiration for much of my work comes from a lifelong love of the outdoors–of our wild and natural world. I derive an equal sense of calm in the wilderness as I do violent storms and turbulent seas. Always seeking adventure-be it taking to a trail, the mountains, or water-I discovered there’s no greater artist than Mother Nature; her palette exquisitely inspiring. Drawing from that, I enjoy combining subtle colors and intricate textures through the mediums of ink, watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil, to create the impression of realism without denying the viewer their own experience. I look forward to this creative journey that I started so many years ago. More than anything, I’m excited to have you with me, and sincerely hope that my work brings you the same stillness and enjoyment that I experienced in creating it for you.