Accidently stumbling into plein air painting turned out to be no accident at all.  I am so thankful to have found this lifestyle that gives me incredible joy whether I find myself along a river, on a cliff overlooking a canyon or just about anywhere that I can witness the magic of the natural world. I revel in the physical challenge of getting to a remote spot, setting up my easel and being able to observe all that a place has to offer even if a painting can only record a small portion of it, I will have that forever.  I believe that if I feel a connection to my surroundings or subject, that connection will come through in the painting and the viewer will be able to share the moment. I strive to keep the freshness of the plein air approach in all of my paintings, both plein air and studio, I am not looking for photo like paintings but pieces that are expressive and have a sense of mood. All of my paintings are done using a limited palette which helps maintain a color harmony throughout the piece.  Most of my current work is done using a palette knife. I find that the knife helps the color stay clean and it also doesn’t allow me to get caught up in detail.