My work as a fine art landscape painter explores the relationship between abstraction and realism. Each painting begins with an underpainting of abstract shapes that establish the composition. As I work, these shapes are refined into recognizable elements of the landscape—mountains, trees, and rivers—while retaining their original character. The abstract structure remains visible in the finished painting, influencing its composition, color, and movement.
My artistic development was shaped by the transition from a small farming town to the San Francisco Bay Area. The contrast between these environments influenced my early work, which often incorporated rebellion and satire as a response to the cultural differences I encountered. Later, moving to Montana brought another significant change in my life and work. The landscape and my surroundings led me toward a greater focus on nature and the possibilities of landscape painting.
I studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts and Montana State University, earning a BFA in drawing and an MFA in painting. I have had more than 90 solo exhibitions, and my work is represented in public, private, and corporate collections worldwide.
My painting process begins with abstract forms that gradually develop into recognizable landscapes. I am interested in preserving the character of those original shapes as they become mountains, trees, and rivers, allowing abstraction and realism to coexist in the finished work