Landscape painting, to me, is a “conversation” with nature. I approach the landscape with specific ideas in my mind, ideas about composition and color, remnants of visual memories perhaps, or thoughts about my artistic influences. When I find a place that I want to paint, I then put all these preconceived notions aside, and respond emotionally to what I see. I’m not interested in “copying” nature, but rather, I try to achieve a fresh, simple and direct evocation of nature.

I paint on oils both directly on-site and in my studio. In each work I combine observation and invention. Though my paintings are representational, I am always thinking of the abstract structure inherent in a particular landscape motif. My goal is to achieve a sense of overall compositional unity without losing the sense of wonder and surprise that draws me to nature in the first place.