ARTIST STATEMENT

A resident of Oergon. growing up in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, I have focused on the landscape for over sixty years as an artist, outdoor enthusiast, hunter and fisherman. As a child and younger adult I spent most of my time on the family farm hosting a lake with the woods and fields surrounding the property. My grandfather taught me how to identify trees and stay in the shadows to observe the natural habitats of the animals and birds.  He shared his monthly subscriptions to Field and Stream Outdoor Life  magazines filled with photographs and paintings of the outdoors. We spent days from before dawn to after dusk sitting to watch the day unfold and end in darkness. Together we observed the cycle of life; how the environment adapted to the changing seasons, flourishing in the spring, summer, fall and the frozen lakes, deep snow of the severe cold winters.

I sketch readily and paint in oils and pastels to bring to the canvas my love and passion for the forest, the open fields, the soothing waters and the natural sounds of the landscape. I seek to capture the light, shadow, reflections and natural design that change with the time of day and the seasons.

For the last ten years I have altered my grounded mid west United States living environment with travels throughout Europe and employment in Vienna, Austria. I  currently have a home and studio in the high desert of Oregon and have added the hills, mountains, wheat fields and river canyons to my repretoir.