I can trace my love of art all the way back to elementary school. One day, my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. O'Neal, told my mother, "The only way to get his attention is to hold up something with color. He's an artist." Looking back, I think Mrs. O'Neal may have recognized something in me long before I recognized it in myself.
Over the years, my artistic journey has taken me to some remarkable places, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado; Dallas, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and Florence, Italy. Each destination offered new opportunities to learn, grow, and expand my understanding of art.
Like many artists, I have taken on a variety of creative work along the way. For a brief time, I created a piece for the movie industry, working under someone else's direction only to produce one artwork that appeared on screen for only a few seconds. While it was an interesting experience, my heart has always belonged to creating freely and expressing my own vision.
Stone carving is where I discovered true creative freedom, working from my own vision rather than someone else's design. There, my imagination could take over completely. Nothing in the world of art excited me more than studying a piece of stone and searching for the sculpture hidden inside. You can view my work in the Sculpture Gallery section of this website.
Years ago, I was forced to step away from stone carving, not by choice, but by circumstance. Today, my creative journey continues through portrait painting. What I have learned is that the essence of the work remains the same. Whether I am carving stone or painting on canvas, my goal is to capture the unique spirit of a person or pet, creating a lasting portrait that often surprises clients and exceeds their expectations.
The moments that stay with me when completed is when someone sees the finish piece, pauses, and I noticed tears in their eyes. Those are the memories and moments that I carry with me.
After more than 50 years of creating art, I still approach each piece the same way, with care, respect, and a genuine desire to get it right. If you choose to work with me, know that every painting receives my full attention. I work on one piece at a time, giving it everything I have. My greatest challenge is often knowing when to stop. I could continue refining details until the paint runs out.
I always enjoy involving my clients in the creative process, inviting their thoughts and ideas about how they want the painting to look. After all, as I often say, "It doesn't matter to me, it's not going to hang on my wall."
That said, my best work often comes when a client trusts me to use my own judgment, allowing my creativity to come to life in a way that truly pleases us both.
