Landscape is currently dominated by the popular "Plein air" on location approach, with pleasing color, competent brushwork, and an emphasis on simplification of shapes. I strive, in my landscape work, to offer more; to give each painting enough depth and complexity to draw the viewer in.
I gather ideas for each subject and conceptual approach from two sources. First, my relationship with the Pacific Ocean, the California shoreline and all related environs; I have clambered over these rocks and ducked beneath these waves for more than five decades. The second is the tradition of my family in the field of entertainment and storytelling through the design of motion pictures and other entertainment experiences.
I try to imbue my work with a sense of the epic, larger-than-life experience that is often seen in the cinema. Both of my Grandfathers were celebrated motion picture Production Designers with a collective 40 or so Academy Award nominations and a grand total of 6 Oscars between them. They were both originally trained as artists and looked upon the Silver Screen as their "canvas".
This influence is a deep one, giving my work scope and depth as it evolves. Experience as a scenic artist and entertainment designer have amplified an appreciation for the power of scale and the psychological impact of monumental subject matter. Conversely, as a Fine Artist, I know how important it is to bring the viewer into the work and the “story”, with subtle hints of a human presence and scale.