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| Biography |
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I
was born in San Francisco and raised on the Pennisula, South
of the City. I spent my youth either outdoors playing tennis
or indoors drawing my favorite athletes and wild animals.
After
graduating from high school I attended College of San Mateo,
where I received a degree in Graphic Arts. I spent four
years at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, graduating
with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Illustration in 1980.
My
two great passions have always been sports and wildlife.
I was fortunate to make a living mainly in advertising,
which included a long relationship with the National Football
League and various Major League Baseball Clubs.
As
time went on, I concentrated soley on wildlife illustration.
I worked for a variety of zoos and the Nature Company. I
illustrated a number of children's books, including "The
Living Rainforest" with award winning paintings in
Communication Arts Annual in 2002. Around the same time
I became interested in the immediacy and spontaneity of
the Plein Air approach and started painting in the East
Bay Hills near my home. I soon had a collection of works
and began to show in galleries and join various plein air
events.
My
style changed almost overnight, although my approach remained
intact, utilizing solid drawing skills and portraying strong
graphic shapes. Painting outdoors has become a passion.
I continue to participate in a number of plein air events
annually in California. Each has its own unique topography,
light and challenges, which forces me to keep my work fresh
and loose.
In
2005, I joined a group of fellow artists to paint in the
Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. We packed in our supplies,
hiked to nearly 10,000 feet and painted the majestic peaks.
This has become an annual event.
My
wife Tia, whom I met at Art Center, is an Art Director at
Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA. We have two grown
boys, Joel and Marshall, both artistic and athlectic. Orbit
is our ever-faithful dog. |
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| Plein Air painting |
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Painting outdoors
is physical. We have to deal with various weather conditions
from cold winter mornings, to summer heat and glare. Windy
days can challenge the best of scenery, but these changing
variables are often exhilarating and force the artist to
mafe decisive brushwork.
The first impression I try to capture is a strong composition.
I look to simplify the scene by making bold, graphic shapes.
The light and athmosphere are ever changing, and i want
to quickly establish a color script. One of the first things
i determine is what is going to change the quickest. This
is the key area to capture and determine the feel of the
painting.
I usually finish my paintings on location, so i keep the
fresh spontaneous feel. Sometimes these works are used as
a study for a larger piece, but they can stand on their
own as a finished painting.
The bold work of Edgar Payne, William Wendt and Carl Runguis
and the atmosphere of Sam Hyde Harris are huge inspirations
to me as I continue to grow in this ever-challenging medium. |
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