At the age of 21, upon seeing nineteenth century French landscape paintings, I had an awakening to art. The beauty and sensitivity I saw in those works changed my perception of the world.

I started studying art history, painted copies of French impressionist landscapes and enrolled in life drawing and painting classes at Chaffey Community College. In 1975, I decided to become a full-time painter. I was 24 years old.

I moved from Ontario, California, where I was raised, to the northern part of the state. After a year I settled in Eureka, California. I was drawn there by the beauty and the art community. I met and worked with several very accomplished artists, painting landscapes every day on location, or painting in the studio always working directly from the still-life set up or models. I learned from direct observation of nature, by looking at and studying great art from the past and working alongside artists more developed than myself.

In 1984, I met my wife and fellow artist, Terry. We live a wonderful quiet life in California. We have studios on our property and I continue to paint daily, following my passion for painting from life, trying to capture the light, atmosphere, space, and the mysterious beauty all around us.

AWARDS

2020-21 Art Renewal Center Salon: 3rd place, Still Life & Plein Air categories, Honorable Mention, Plein   Air category 

2019-20 Art Renewal Center Salon Competition, Honorable Mention Plein Air category
2019     22nd Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational: Jean Stern Distinctive Merit Legacy Award, Spirit of Laguna Award, The Irvine Museum Award
2018     Artist Choice Award Maui Plein Air Invitational  

2017     1st place in the Plein Air category of the Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition, two Honorable Mentions: Plein Air and the Still Life categories

2017     Best Composition, Best West Coast Artist, Best New Artist to Easton, Easton Plein Air Festival, Easton Maryland, July, 2017

2016     Best in Show, Laguna Beach 18th Plein Air Invitational

2016     Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition

2015     First Place, Plein Air Magazine Salon Competition $15,000 award. Cover story, Sept 2015 issue

2015     Gold Medal for Best Painting, 104th Gold Medal Exhibition, California Art Club

2015     Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition

2014     Best in Show, Laguna Beach 16th Plein Air Invitational

2014     2nd Place, Plein Air Magazine Salon Competition

2014     Franz Bischoff Award for Best Still Life, 103rd Gold Medal Exhibition, California Art Club

2014     Southwest Art Magazine Award of Excellence, 103rd Gold Medal Exhibition, California Art Club

2014     Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition

2013     3rd Place, Plein Air Magazine Salon Competition