Wild Butterfly Garden - Gulf Fritillary Painting

My oil paintings capture the essence of quiet classic settings that evoke a sense of elegance and refinement. My work ranges from contemporary realism to modern impressionism. Inspiration comes from the scent of a freshly cut orange, the texture of seashells brought home from the beach, and echoes of classic antique pottery resting on a forgotten shelf. I'm influenced by whispers of a simpler time, when life was characterized by hard work and modest pleasures. I paint echoes of my grandmother’s kitchen, my father’s rugged fishing boats, and my mother’s Victoriana collections, all of which offer a glimpse into a serene, reflective past, celebrating the quiet beauty of life’s small, often unnoticed moments. I grew up in the Philadelphia area and the New Jersey shore immersed in the world of art and antiques. My biggest influence was my mom, watercolorist Idella Hallowell, who would take me on plein air painting excursions from Ocean City New Jersey to Acadia in Maine. I probably spent too many years working as a zombie in corporate computing. I finally landed a job working for RCA Corp as an illustrator. After that, I illustrated books and magazines, worked for several publishers and ad agencies, and was a McGraw-Hill book editor. My illustrations appeared in corporate ads, video productions, websites, books, and magazines. This career had benefits - it gave me the means to explore the world beyond my back yard, with many journeys to Europe, Asia, and across North America. Corporate, however, was never my gig, not really. So, when I had the chance, I ran away to a Florida beach where I could experience the sun on my skin and paint every day. The art studio is where I feel most at home. I spend hours there every week developing my paintings. Authenticity is important in my work, so I paint what is true to me. My paintings reflect what's around me - the world in all its marvelous imperfectness, my textured reality. I show my oil paintings in prominent art galleries and international art shows. HONORS Signature member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS). First place in a Smithsonian Institution WaterWays exhibit National and international awards with NOAPS, the American Impressionist Society (AIS), and Richeson75 International Inclusion in Oil Painters of America (OPA), NOAPS, AIS, and Boldbrush juried exhibitions.