I’m always looking for images that move me. Who knows when something will catch my eye—it might be the light and shadows, shapes and lines, repetition of a form, or maybe a different perspective that makes an ordinary scene or object dramatic and new. I make sketches and notes, and always take many photographs.
And then—I put the photographs away. Will my initial reaction stand the test of time and earn the investment of effort it will take to paint it? Later, I might be thumbing through my files of photos and think, “Oh yes, that one.” Or, an image might come back to me in a dream. Either way, that’s when I’m ready, even compelled, to go to work.
I start by drawing many sketches, always asking myself, “What is it that captured my attention? What was I thinking or feeling?” As I work, each drawing becomes more focused on the essence of the inspiration. Though I often incorporate a great deal of detail, everything contributes to the mood and experience.
Now I paint. My style presents technical challenges because watercolor is unforgiving; unlike other mediums, it doesn’t allow you to erase or paint over a mistake. I work with a plan, but am open to serendipity.
I usually stand when I paint, and move back and forth to see the work from different distances and angles. Titles usually come to me when I first see the scene, or at least while I am working. They are always a clue to the feeling that inspired me.
Seeing my work, many people are surprised to learn it is watercolor because it is vivid, detailed, and realistic. I hope I am bringing something different to the watercolor medium. At a recent solo show, the gallery owner said he found my work “fresh and interesting,” (and bought a painting for his own collection.)
Above all, I hope my work brings an emotional connection to our disappearing West. I was especially pleased when a new collector chose her painting because “it brings back such powerful memories,” and when a regional bank acquired eight of my works for their lobbies, as evidence of their deep commitment to the community they serve.
