My intrigue with trees dates back to my childhood. I always admired the impressive, and very old, live oaks and tall pecan trees that were plentiful in the area of South Louisiana where I grew up. At a very early age, I can recall a great fondness I had for a large mimosa tree that grew in our front yard. Like a monkey, I would frequently climb up and perch on one of its larger branches and watch the world go by. I think I somehow bonded with that tree as much as one might with a pet. When I moved to Dallas for college, what I remember missing most––after gumbo, of course––were the trees. But when I went back to lush, humid Louisiana, I found myself missing the arid climate, rolling prairies, and open spaces of Texas. I eventually decided to call the friendly atmosphere of North Texas home, and my paintings became a marriage of both states: the Louisiana of my past and the Texas of my present. In many cultures and religions, trees represent life, strength, and faith. The incredible growth of trees provides us with the essential element that nourishes our every breath. In the South, it is not uncommon for trees to be named and honored among southern families and communities. My paintings are a sort of homage to their majesty and grace, as well as to the bounty and beauty of the wide-open prairies that create the infinite horizons here in North and West Texas.My landscapes are designed to become an adventure; where the viewer becomes an explorer, discovering the splendor in the painted environment. The lone, large tree in the infinite expanse of land reflects a feeling of oneness. It inspires a sense that we represent a small but important part of our country, world, and universe. My process begins with taking photos of trees I find interesting. I then paint them as realistically as possible, with great effort to closely match nature’s color or, alternatively, greatly exaggerate it. My technique is complex and time consuming. A 16x20 canvas can take as much as 80 hours to produce. Larger paintings can take up to five or six weeks.