Any work that aspires, however humbly, to the condition of art should carry its justification in every line.   Art itself many be defined as a single-minded attempt to render the highest kind of justice to the visible universe, by bringing to light the truth, manifold and one, underlying its every aspect.

Joseph Conrad, 1897

About my Work

I believe in expressing more than beauty or ugliness through my work.   Beyond either of these is its meaning in my and my viewer's lives.   The brilliant colors of homes in Burano, Italy express the individualism of the people.   And they comment on the confined culture of many American neighbors who would be shocked if a house on their street were painted a bright red.

I admit that I have painted landscapes from photos and have not been at the site.   But these paintings do not shine with the spirit of the place, and I know that.   They are not for sale, rather they are exercises that sharpen the watercolor craft.   This I see as an important concept, there are two aspects to art.   First I must learn the craft of placing pigment to paper.   After my mind and muscles are familiar with the brush, paper, pigment and water I can paint seeing ahead how the next step will creat the image in my imagination.   That is, with the craft well learned I moved on to art.

Now all my work results from experiencing the scene.   Even if I paint from a photograph it is a photograph I took.   Yet I will accept commissions that may be based on photographs supplied by my patron.   A commission for a painting from a photograph requires an extended conversation with my patron during which I can get a sence of the feeling in the images.   The painting has to come from my interior self, I must obtain this inner vision.   From this personal experience I can impart the sense or feeling of the image in the painting.

As you see I am not a still life painter, or a portrait painter.   Any specialization to a single field of painting seems confining.   Perhaps a scene inspires a feeling, perhaps a person is the muse.   In some cases a concept has triggered setting up a still life and painting it.   While I accept the limits of the watercolor medium and the two dimensons of paper I won't to be further confined by specializing in a particular subject area.