Painting, for me, is all about exploration and discovery.

What piques my interest initially are the shapes. When I'm outside with my sketchbook, I play with the shapes of things...an opportunity to think compositionally in black and white. All of my paintings begin this way, in pencil or ink. The ideas about color, narrative, and expressing a sense of the place, unfold as the painting's structure develops in my sketchbook.

Back in the studio, using these value/composition studies, I begin the next painting adventure. As the shapes and values develop, the painting's sense of color relationships begins to emerge. Local color is considered, but defining a cohesive and appropriate color relationship within the painting is of more importance to me.

The process is about listening, letting go, learning something new, and enjoying the ride.