Joshua Tree in January Painting

For me, painting is exploration and about my fascination with and connection to the wild natural world. When I see beautifully shaped elements in the landscape come alive by dramatic light it's exciting. Light is the miraculous key that makes simple things awesome and affects color in stunning ways that make me want to paint to discover more fully. When I am outside painting or hiking and experiencing wild places the process starts with awe, seeing something that evokes emotion. This evolves into wonder and visually absorbing the complexities of shapes and color. When I am back in the studio I rely on my memory to evoke the lived experience and along with my sketches and photos I will create my paintings. What keeps me going to the easel is the mystery and anticipation of what will evolve there. What I want to bring about is a painting that represents a bit of the magic, beauty, and strength of the world and says “Celebrate nature!”