Artist Statement
I remember being aged seven or eight, and riding in the car with my mom, looking at the mountains of Montana where I grew up. When we drove near them, I recall thinking about how crisp the lines were that outlined them, the distinction between mountain top, and the cool blue skies. It seemed to me that God was a terrific artist, having drawn and created such beauty. I never did forget that feeling I got from looking at those beautiful and awe inspiring mountains, or seeing a beautiful horse, fields of wheat or wildflowers, even still lifes...To be simply put, nature's works of art make my heart melt, and fill me with a joy unsurpassable. As an artist, I try to capture that beauty, and convey my love for each part, whether it is the simple lines of a small, indistinct flower, or the contours of the fur of the horse. I live for the challenge of creating something unique, touchable, yet just out of reach. My goal is to create the illusion of much detail, drawing in the audience, to make the viewer want to reach out and touch the object I sought to capture.
I paint mostly in acrylics, and generally on canvas, although I do some works in pastels, charcoal, and even pencil. I am enamored with acrylics because I move quickly. It is a challenge to blend the colors before the paint dries. I love the feel of paint moving on the canvas under my brush, creating the piece that takes on a life of its own. Oftentimes, I feel like I am just an instrument creating these pieces; they gnaw at me until the brush finally hits the canvas, and I simply will not be happy until the piece is complete. Mostly I find beauty in nature, animals, flowers, landscapes and such. I am challenged by the daunting task of creating a glimpse of personality in my animals and portraits, and I live for that challenge. My approaches are always changing, as I strive to find the perfect way for my brush to touch the canvas. My artwork is different from others because it is realistic, yet tangible enough to know in most cases it is a painting.
I have spent a good portion of this past year working on pet portrait commissions, and finally have time to create for myself. I currently have a painting of a barrel racing horse and rider in progress, as well as several new landscapes, and so many more animal ones to come. These works are being created in acrylic on canvas. I will be exploring new ways to do blurred or muted backgrounds that don't take away from the pictures, but subtly add to them. I work on integrating more light, letting the light dance off of the subjects. I am excited to have these ones lined up, and look forward to the process of watching them emerge!!