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Realistic approach to nature

Daily Staff Report

1. What does art mean to you?Art has always been a pleasure and a business. When my children were young it was an outlet. Later it became a source of income and recognition, when I was accepted into regional shows and won awards. After getting a degree in commercial art in 1981, it became a job. I was an illustrator, art director and senior graphic designer. Now that I have retired, it is a pleasure once more!2. When did you know you wanted to become an artist?I knew I was good at drawing in grade school. But, I wanted to be a scientist, I loved chemistry. When I won second place in a Washington, DC Art Directors scholarship contest, my art teacher talked me into going to art school. I attended California College of Arts and Crafts.

3. What inspires you to create? What sort of mood do you have to be in?My mind is always painting – whenever I see something inspiring. I can work on something anytime, mood has little to do with it. Demands on my time are the stoppers.4. Why did you choose the medium that you work with, or did it choose you?I used to work in oils and drawing. I still do a good bit of pencil work, especially figure drawing. But after developing an allergy to turpentine and having a good watercolor instructor, I never went back to oils.

5. Describe your style?I have a realistic approach to any subject. I enjoy it when people tell me they can recognize the scene in my painting. Many paintings start as sketches done on the spot, a mountain top or a window looking out. I then add color back in the studio. Flower studies are also from direct sketches.6. If you could meet any artist (alive or dead) who would it be? What would you want to talk about?I would love to be able to ask Sergeant how he achieved the lush, luminous colors in his watercolors.



7. Do you own a favorite piece of art? If so, describe it and tell us why you bought it?The latest piece of art I purchased is a ceramic sculpture by Julie Hawthorne. She happens to be a member of the fantastic art family that my brother (also an artist, a sculptor) married into. The reason I love it is because it is free and expressive in a way that I envy. However, my favorite would have to be a sculpture done by my father, a large dolphin carved in redwood driftwood.8. Are there any places in the area that display your work?Currently Harry’s Bump and Grind in Minturn has some of my prints hanging in the gallery space. The Colorado Ski Museum carries a print, “The Mt. of the Holy Cross,” and a line of my note cards. The Vail Cascade gift shop and Scully’s also have the note cards.Vail, Colorado


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