Finding Beauty in the Everyday
My work comes from a very simple place: I just love to paint what I find beautiful, and remind myself of how wonderful our world can be. I am constantly drawn to the quiet details we might otherwise pass by without a second thought. It could be a focused beam of light hitting a cup of coffee, a striking pattern in nature, or the way the light sparkles and dances off a reflective tea kettle. I just hope to look at these everyday moments with fresh eyes and appreciate their charm.
Light, Presence, and the Brushstroke
For over twenty years, my painting practice was focused entirely on traditional realism. That discipline gave me the space to hone my skills - studying color theory and training my eye to truly see light and shadow. Recently, I've enjoyed a gentle evolution in my studio. I have started experimenting with more expressive, textured brushstrokes, finding a simple joy in laying the paint down and allowing it to exist exactly as it was placed.
For me, this new way of working is really about how the painting shifts with distance. Up close, the canvas shows the raw energy and physical texture of the paint marks. But from further away, those deliberate strokes rely on accurate light and value to fall into place, maintaining a familiar sense of realism.
From the Field to the Easel
When I am not painting, I am usually outside snapping photos. I have a deep love for nature and animals, and spending time in the wild has become a beautiful extension of my studio work. These field photographs directly inspire and inform the pieces I eventually bring to the canvas. You can check out my wildlife photography portfolio below 📷