What's Your Favorite Color?

 

Medicine Bow Sunrise #5

A collector recently asked my wife if I've always loved pink.  Since I remember arguing with my dad about not wanting to wear a pink shirt when I was young, I know that I haven't "always" loved pink- but nothing gets me more excited about painting than seeing fluorescent pink spray paint in the hardware store.  I love the challenge of using such stark colors as I try to capture subtle, natural themes.  I think it adds depth, even when it barely peeks through in the finished product.  Even if pink isn't your favorite color, I hope you can appreciate the way it's used in my work.

How did you spend your Spring Break?

 Leaning Palm

I recently spent a week in Hawaii with my family for Spring Break.  It was the first time I have re-visited the area since I lived there for two years as a child.  There is something healing about seeing your childhood through adult eyes.  I'm sure the sound of the ocean and the misty views of palm trees that I love to paint added to the overall feeling of renewal.  I hope that I've captured that in my "Palm" series.

Your Dad actually does this full time?

 

Bird in Bare Branches (36 x 47) (my first completed painting after art school)

My son was recently assigned to make a Power Point about his favorite professional artist for his school art class.  He chose me (which he explained was not just because I was his dad, but because he actually really likes the materials I use to paint).  After he gave his presentation, his teacher asked, "Your dad actually does this full time?"  This gave me a minute to reflect how this all began.  Although I graduated from the U of U with an emphasis in Painting and Drawing and Ceramics, my pursuit of forming a company to provide a stable income put my paintings on the back burner.  It wasn't until 2006, as I worked on a client's house, that I was encouraged to paint 3 pieces for their house.  I painted four, they bought three immediately and later came back for the fourth.  This gave me the confidence to pursue my real love.  It's been pretty gratifying to find that other people enjoy my artwork enough to allow me to do this full time.