Plein Air Painting has been an extension of my love for nature and a way to study it. Painting is my way of sharing what I see and feel with others.

 
Artist Statement:
Being an avid outdoorsman, I have had much experience hiking, backpacking, skiing, winter camping and mountaineering. Throughout the years I have visited many national parks, national monuments and state parks. This has led to my love and respect for our National and State Park systems and the importance of their preservation. My background in these areas combined with my artistic talents have led to a natural career as a plein air painter with much time spent in the studio as well. My art is based on the harmony and variety of color, form, texture, value and perspective that I see and feel living in this amazing American landscape. Plein air painting has been an extension of my experiences outdoors. It is always an adventure and challenge to me! The more I paint outdoors the more intimate I become with our Earth and the more I can share this intimacy and value for our environment with others. It is the experience to make a study or the challenge to finish a painting outdoors and sharing that experience that keeps me going out for more.

Bio:
Born and raised in upstate New York, I graduated from SUNY Buffalo with a BFA in Communication Design. After an established career as a graphic designer and art director and illustrator in upstate New York, Chicago, Tulsa and, Greenville South Carolina, my wife and I moved to Arizona. Captivated by my new surroundings I began making art, working in oil and public art mural painting. Yearly excursions to paint in the desert Southwest have kept me tied to a place of searing raw beauty of which I will never tire. In 2012, we moved to Maine where I travel the state and New England painting its forests, mountains, lakes and the sublime, rocky coast of Maine.

Creative Works, Exhibits, Plein Air Events and Competitions:
August 2018, Paint the Town Waldoboro. a plein air event in Waldoboro, ME

July 2019, Art in the Park,  A plein air festival, Ocean Park Maine. Invited back each year since 2014

June 2018, Jackson Memorial Library, Tenant's Harbor, ME, "Inspiration: Four Paint Maine". An exhibit of Maine Landscapes and Seascapes, 18 pieces shown

May 2018, Wet Paint Tamworth, Tamworth, NH. Invited artist. Overall Honorable Mention

• November-June 2017-2018: Featured artist for the 2017-2018 season of Vox Nova Chamber Choir wi
th works featured on all promotional materials and an exhibition of landscape and seascape paintings at each of four concerts

December 2017-January 2018: Exhibited at Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, ME

September 2017: Invited Artist. “A Stroke of Art” Plein Air festival during Boothbay Harbor Harborfest. Won People's Choice Award at a festival event

June 2017: Juried Artist, Parrsboro International Plein Plein Air Festival, Nova Scotia. Took third place at Quick Draw Competition

May 2017: Invited Artist. Tamworth Wet Paint Plein Air Festival, New Hampshire. Won second place overall

April-May, 2017: Exhibited several pieces at Jackson Memorial Library, Tenant's Harbor, Maine. Showing with the Plein Air Painters of Maine

July-November 2016: Solo exhibit. Art in the Capitol, Maine State House, Augusta, Maine. 22 Paintings exhibited

May-June, 2016: Coordinated show with curator and exhibited several works at University of Maine Presque Isle at the Reed Gallery on behalf of the Plein Air Painters of Maine

July-August 2015: Exhibited 18 works at Winter Harbor Public Library, Winter Harbor Maine

2009-2014: Commissioned to paint 11 murals at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Arizona, Oklahoma and Georgia

2011: Inaugural City of Surprise, Arizona, Plein Air Competition. Won first place overall

July-August 2010 & 2011: Commissioned as master artist to direct West Valley Arts Council's Gallery 37 Public Art Program. Directed student art apprentices to design and complete two public art projects for City of Avondale and the City of Buckeye, AZ

June 2010: Commissioned to paint Friendship Park Mural, City of Avondale, AZ

November 2009: Featured Artist at St. John Vianni Gala, exhibiting a series of ten abstract cat paintings

November-December 2008: Completed commission to paint four murals for four animal habitats at Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, in Litchfield Park, AZ


Gallery:
• Roux and Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, Maine

Memberships
• Plein Air Painters of Maine (PAPME)
• Maine Art Gallery 
• Creative Portland
• River Arts Gallery