What is my purpose and goal for my painting? I paint what I live. I want to capture those moments of beauty expressed in the every day that go unnoticed because everyone is distracted by life. My Kansas backyard is the perfect setting because it gives me many opportunities to paint those everyday moments. The simple life is expressed in my work by smoothly applying thin layers of acrylic paint. The super saturated colors make the subject pop off the canvas. I push the bright colors to the max while still making the subject matter realistic. When viewing the painting from a distance the art looks very detailed and precise and then as the piece comes closer into view it becomes more impressionistic and less detailed making the painting more about color. I grab your attention with things that can be seen around us everyday, but are missed because people are absorbed in their lives. I focus in on those subjects that people miss like butterflies, birds, clouds, dragonflies and snakes and make them more interesting with intense colors that draw the viewer in. The goal of my art is to make you take notice and make you smile.
How did I get here? As a child I was always interested in art and played around with art, but I wasn’t trained in art. I only had one high school sampling art class. It wasn’t until college that I decided to pursue an art degree, but back then it was more about how could I make money with art not how can I be fulfilled by my art. I attended Colorado State University and graduated with a BFA degree majoring in graphic design with a minor in art history. For 20 years I worked in advertising, printing and publishing, but always felt unfilled creatively. Then my life’s plan was derailed with some big changes and I found my way and my calling to painting. At first I worked with watercolors and then recently I made the switch to acrylics and I have never looked back. The medium suits my fun colorful side while still working well with my methodical and orderly side. The process is more relaxing and comfortable and that comes out on the canvas.
