How long have you been creating?

I've always been "making something". Starting at age two I would draw faces in any circle shape. My math skills landed me in an engineering career. It has taken me 40 years to get the courage to step away from a "day job" and begin to devote myself to art full time. When the technology bubble burst and I wound up unemployed I got a AAA degree in animation but found jobs did not exist in that field for 60 year olds who were not game freaks. So, living on my wife's salary as a teacher and some retirement savings, I've devoted myself to fine art development for the last 3 years.

I’m gradually coming to understand what “artistic maturity” is and where I am going with my work. Currently I am attracted to impressionist styles with embedded human elements – sometimes figures, sometimes man made objects. I see how such development will continue for all of my life.

So, I guess the answer is "Three years and forever."

What is your media of choice?

It depends upon what I'm trying to create but most of my work is either drawing i.e. pencil, pen, charcoal, conte, or painting with acrylics or pastel. Recently, I've realized that to accomplish many effects that I want, I'm going to have to become proficient with oils.

What are you motivations for creating?

The enjoyment of seeing “differently” than I did when I started a piece. “Learning something” has always been my greatest source of pleasure and joy.

Simple sensual pleasure, whether in the shapes of lusciously rhythmic human figures or the tranquility of evening light on trees, meadows and distant hills.

So the answer to the question of motivation is the same as the answer to “what is the purpose of living?” – to enjoy the experience. Values, ethics, insight are all part of that enjoyment.

What other artists or movements inform your work?

Movements: Impressionism (French, California, Russian), Representational Expressionism, Victorian Illustrations.

Artists: a real hodge podge: N.C and Andrew Wyeth, Richard Schmid, Egon Schiele, Jack Vettriano’s, Claude Monet, Robert Genn (his commentary as well as his work), John Carlson, Joseph Larusso.

What do you find visually stimulating right now?

Landscapes with an emphasis on raking light and atmospheric depth. Also interior scenes balancing figurative shapes, rhythms, and stories against rectilinear shapes. All of these are built with a limited palette and powerful use of neutrals and greys and warm / cool interplay.

What's the last book you read?

My reading divides into two categories: 1) Historical Fiction, mostly long, dynasty style novels such as John Jakes, Patrick O'Brian, James Mitchner; and 2) Artistic Development books by quality teachers such as Hawthorne, Carlson, Schmid.

I think the last historical fiction was “On Secret Service” by John Jakes.

I usually have a half-dozen art tutorial books in process. Currently I’m studying Kevin MacPherson’s “Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light and Color”, Vicki McMurry’s “Mastering Color”, Lois Griffel’s “Painting the Impressionist Landscape”, Mike Svob’s “Paint Red Hot Landscapes that Sell!” (awful title, great book). I regularly refer to Gregg Kreutz’s “Problem Solving for Oil Painters”, and Richard Schmid’s “Alla Prima”

Tell us about some of your upcoming events.

I just hung my first solo show of about 35 paintings at the Granville Arts Center in Garland, Texas that was pretty exciting.

Two of my paintings were juried into the Plano (Texas) National Juried Exhibition which opens 7 April.

I am participating in a group show at the Visual Arts Coalition of Dallas which also opens on 7 April.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and our collectors to know about you and/or your work?

Even though I am beginning late in life, I intend to create a successful career as a collected artist. But even more importantly, I intend to enjoy creating art and that joy will be what attracts people to my art, no matter what it’s subject or style.