While in Yosemite one year, a teacher asked us what we wanted to capture in the images we were creating. There were various answers, but for me a work should capture the essence of what is before our eyes. My belief in this has not wavered over time. I view my job as an artist to capture more of what is NOT said, than what is said. What is the true nature of the individual or object? Is it his or her impishness, compassion, sense of humor, grace, haughtiness, innocence? If it is an object, what is the story that object tells? Even a brass pot usually has had something cooked in it. How was the object handled? Roughly, carefully?

I also believe that a painting or drawing should be beautiful. Renoir said, “...a painting must be an agreeable, joyful, pretty thing...” For me, a true work of art will continually prove its beauty by bringing joy to the viewer.

Finally, I like serenity which is why I am most comfortable working with a limited palette of colors. There is greater harmony in the whole which allows me to tell “the story" without a lot of visual noise.