As an artist, I am passionate about experimenting with different mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. I am drawn to exploring bold ideas and expressing myself through form and color. In my work I strive to push the boundaries of traditional techniques and find new ways to capture emotion and expression.

Whether working with delicate watercolors or bold acrylics, I am always searching for ways to bring my vision to life on the paper/canvas.

Through my art, I hope to inspire others to explore their own creativity and to see the world in new and exciting ways!

I usually work flat, as I like to stand to paint. I do tilt the paper to better control larger washes, runs and pooling.

Paper
I use a variety of papers, boards, watercolor blocks, but lately I been using "Arches 140 lb | 300 g/m2 | Cold Pressed (Grain Fin) 12x16 in, 100% cotton." I tend to work on several paintings at once, typically 3-5.

Color

I plan my color almost entirely by memory and stick to what is on my palette. I rarely change it up, but I also introduce inks and pre-mixed colors right into the painting. I also use a variety of household cleaning products, coffee grounds, salt, rice, and anything that adds to the work.

Value Distribution

I stick to three basic values, black, middle-tone, and light.

Planning

A vast majority of my paintings are not planned. And when they are, I start with a very light sketch and work the details with masking fluid, tape, and sheets of scrap paper. Unplanned paintings take a life of their own, and I work the problem when it is called for. I would say I spend 10% planning and 80% painting.

Sometimes a painting will need to dry before coming back to it. I have gone days where the painting just sits there and I walk away from it (Playing with the Kids) and then come back days later to rework it. A typically landscape painting, 12 x 16 takes me about 3 hours, start to finish. I like to work quick, and if I can do a painting under an hour, it is usually a stronger painting. Paintings that are over-worked seem forced. (varies on subject)

I have been using this layout since my university days. I used everything from old butcher trays to cheap mixing palettes to individual mixing containers for more complex spills and controlled pours. Currently, I'm going back to my old school palette, the John Pike Palette. The "Pike" palette is by far the best one I have used and gives me a good range of mixing areas.

The cover also is used for a mixing area and can be propped up for draining paint to the lower area. I double-up Thalo Green and Payne's Gray and leave an empty compartment under Burnt Umber. The free mix area is where the real color experiments happen — this is always changing and shifting.