PAINT WHAT'S REAL

Painting, en plein air or in the studio, helps me view life with a sense of wonder. I could study for years and never tire of the pursuit of capturing moments grand and small. As I share my oil paintings with others, my hope is for the viewer to feel invited into an experience as they begin to notice the beauty in their surroundings, in others, and in themselves. My work is loved and collected by those in my community. As a primarily self-taught artist,  I am grateful for many current artists from whom I have studied. I am thankful to be a member of organizations such as Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society. Just as so many artists have poured into me, I am thrilled to share my painting experience with others at the Booth Art Academy. 

I often combine my painting process with trail running. More miles makes for more references. Visiting the trails as often as I do, I watch the change of light affect the colors of nature while running at different times of day. There’s nothing quite like experiencing a sunrise after the darkest hours before dawn, or racing the deep orange sunlight as it dances from tree to tree at dusk. Stars seem to shine brighter when I’ve been running with my friends all through the night. 

This is a picture of me and my runner after a 24 hour race. One of my favorite things is to be a pacer supporting other runners. After a certain amount of miles or time, I come alongside runners to keep them on track to their goals.

Lately, plein air painting has been my favorite way to connect with the subject and my community. During my long runs, I like to keep a mint tin in my backpack and pause for a quick study of the landscape. On race day I may be at the start line with you, or you may find me painting at the top of the steepest climb. 

 

Community is essential for creating. Each person, no matter what level of  skill, can learn from one another. Painting and running both allow me to stretch my abilities and connect with others on a meaningful  level as we celebrate learning, find new limits, and challenge one another. 

Along one of my routes, there is a beautiful garden with a cabin we call the "House of Dreams." I like to stop here every so often to jot down some painting ideas.

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Each painting I create is very personal to me. If you have further questions, please contact me. 

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