My work explores the interplay of light, composition, and texture through interior still lifes, imaginative “stillscapes” blending objects with landscapes, and honest, emotionally crafted landscapes.

 

Interiors  In this direction the still life objects are viewed in more of a traditional interior setting but with different twists. In some cases background abstract art is placed behind foreground objects. In other cases  glass objects are featured with all their reflective facets. Compositional and color juxtaposing are amplified between the two planes. Light, composition, color, form, and line are explored in this genre. In these works a sometimes exposed underpainting adds two dimensional interest to the work surface, employing a modern sensibility..

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Stillscapes  This is a term I have coined describing still lifes integrated into the exterior world which provide interesting compositions and interplay of light,  color, and texture.  The foreground components are stripped down to focus on form and represent simplified, utilitarian groupings that may include interesting twists. In their exterior surroundings the foreground objects take on a monumental feel. Titles of the work initiate dialog and interplay with the viewer.  In some cases the still life objects take on a humorous anthropomorphic or narrative expression, providing an undercurrent to the contemplative paintings. Voluminous clouds contrast with the foreground objects and provide a moment of ambiguity, causing the viewer to question whether the storms are approaching or passing. The background clouds and landscapes become as important as the foreground objects in the compositional architecture of the painting.

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Landscapes I have recently returned to landscape painting, with a particular focus on the Flint Hills region of Kansas. The Flint Hills possess a beauty that is sometimes subtle, yet at other times strikingly and unmistakably sublime. In my work, I strive to capture the emotions they evoke without resorting to over-romanticization. Instead, I take an honest approach that highlights their quiet, nuanced beauty. While the hills are compelling in every season, they come alive in spring with a vivid green carpet, and in fall the prairie grasses turn a rich golden amber that is truly something to behold.