I was born and raised in a small town in Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Michigan, and migrated to California after graduating with a degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin.  Since moving to California I have worked at a variety of creative positions in Information Technology.  However, from an early age, there was always this desire to make my living as a landscape artist.

I have been painting for the last 10 years and have been largely self-taught.  Whenever possible, I attend classes and take advantage of seminars and workshops presented by local artists such as Jeanette LeGrue, Tom Soltesz, Marsha Connell and Richard McDaniel.

I’ve been very fortunate to travel and visit many of the great art collections in the world and particularly admire the early California landscape artists – Maynard Dixon, William Wendt, Thomas Hill and Edgar Payne. This group of painters continues to be an inspiration and a model for my own work.

I work on location every weekend and take advantage of the incredible diversity of the area. Currently, I’m painting the many beaches along the Sonoma Coast, one of the most beautiful and inspiring locations in all of California. The juxtaposition of the sky, ocean and landfall provides a rich backdrop for any creative process, and I feel honored to share my interpretation of this experience in my work.

It’s never been a question of ‘why do I paint’ – rather, it’s been a question of -  ‘how can I structure my life so that I can paint full time ’.