Working from life gives energy and immediacy to my art. The sun moving across the sky, the smell of autumn leaves, water lapping, the laugh of children playing nearby, all these elements add to the work. I work from life as much as possible. The ability to incorporate the energy of my surroundings into art also energizes me. When looking at my work it’s my hope that these traces of life shine through the paint. Oil paint and watercolor are my mainstays, but I work in almost every medium from charcoal to pastel. Switching mediums can...more