Paintings
The process of painting every day is both a blessing and a curse. It is a challenge to become a better artist while also trying to be a decent human being. Priorities can become lopsided when you think about the work too often. In other words, life-work-balance applies even to artists. Over time I'm finding that the proper balance actually contributes to better paintings. Because I do this as a profession with no safety net, i.e. trust funds, inheritance, or lottery winnings, the tendency is to work at it constantly. The passion becomes the focus in life - the lines become blurred. I'm driven to paint the world I live in and that is an ongoing process. There is a sense of duty and subtle pressure that I put on myself to constantly make better and more meaningful work.
It is also fair to say, this is a risky way to go through life. Art is a real calling and there is nothing I would rather be doing. But there are days-like today-when my daughter's college bill arrives and you think a day job with a 401K, paid vacation and health care benefits sounds pretty good. This October will mark 19 years of being a full-time artist. It is a wonderful life but a tough way to make a living.
Eastern Landscapes
The Pennsylvania landscape has been the focus of 25 years of painting. My aim is to visually document a feeling that occurs at a particular place and time.
Winter Landscapes
Winters take on a personality all their own. They can be beautifully quiet and charming or they can be nasty and mean. Last year's winter showed us the latter.
Cityscapes
My studio is situated in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. It took me years of practice to get the nerves and skill to paint this city's architecture.
Industrial
It gets a little more difficult to find the gritty areas, but they are still around. Manufacturing or metal fabrication plants can be quite interesting.
Studies
One artist friend calls his small plein air studies, "tracks in the snow", another refers to them as "target practice", others simply refer to them as their "dailies'.
Travel
It is rare that I don't paint on vacation. In fact
I wonder if artists who really paint as much as I do ever take time off? I like to document my travels with work from places visited.
