My goal is to inspire those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them; to discover beauty in unexpected as well as familiar places. I want my subject matter to resonate with color and light to achieve an energetic, vibrant, dramatic painting.
Resume
After a life of wanderlust from New York to California with many stops between and back again….. entertainer, bartender, restaurateur and botched relationships among many other life lessons, I discovered a love for painting. At the ripe age of 55, I semi retired to pursue a career as an artist. Boy, did I have a lot to learn. You know that old adage ..”starving artist?” It’s not an old adage…it’s a real thing! I worked part time jobs for 6 years while learning my new craft…and I’m really hungry.
Although I have had no formal training, to say that I am "self taught" would be a stretch, since I have accumulated a library of books and lessons by many of the best artists and instructors available. My style could be defined as Realism with a touch of Impressionism. I try to capture the natural beauty that surrounds us, especially of New York State and Cape Cod.
Surprisingly winning an award in my first competition encouraged me to continue to learn and improve my skills. Since then, my work has won over 80 awards in numerous local, national, and international art shows/competitions, including 5 Best of Show and 13 First Place Awards. During my continued development as an artist, I have been influenced by the work of the Hudson River School, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla and modern master Richard Schmid.
Selected Awards:
Landscape Award
Master’s Division 2019 VIEW Central Adirondack Art Show (3rd Place)
Best of Show: 2018 - Central New York (CNY) Art Guild Spring Show
Selected Solo and Group Shows:
2019 -- Upstate Cancer Center, Syracuse, NY
2017 -- Guest Artist: Gallery 3040, Old Forge, NY
2011- 2016 -- Lakeside Artisans, Oswego, NY (group)
2008 -- Art Association of Oswego
ORGANIZATIONS:
International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP) Signature Member
American Impressionist Society (AIS)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS)
CNY Art Guild
VIEW (Old Forge Art Guild)
Fulton Art Association
Related Achievements
In 2010, won the $25,000, Next Great Idea, Business Plan Contest to finance the founding of an Artists Co-op in Oswego, NY, for which I served as Pres./Business Mgr. for 6 years, until retiring in 2017.
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