I started painting as a watercolorist, primarily en plein air, in 2011, after nearly forty years as an Architectural Illustrator and Architect. I’ve been drawing since I was 5 years old, dogs and horses at first, later cars, planes, etc., and then buildings, which I still do today. Architecture has formed the foundation of my understanding of design, composition, freehand drawing, perspective, the built & natural environment, and many other aspects of my professional growth. I became interested in plein air painting in the late nineties when myself and 50 -100 architectural illustrators would spend Saturdays at our annual conventions drawing or painting outside in some great places like San Francisco, Boston, Yellowstone, and other venues, and although I only got to do it once or twice a year, it peaked my interest. In 1997 I decided to take a workshop so I could learn more about watercolor and painting en plein air. That first workshop was with Carlton Plumber on the coast of Maine, 1998 with Jeanne Dobie in the Florida Keys, 2001 and 2005 with Charles Reid in Key West and Catalina Island, 2007 with Alvaro Castagnet in Victoria, Canada, 2015 with Joseph Zubukvic and 2017 with Herman Pekel at the Madeline Island School for Art on Lake Superior, and in 2019 I participated in a “mates paint-out” with Joseph Zubukvic and several friends in Denver. I’m sure it was both the excellent artists and the locations that hooked me, but either would have convinced me this was the way to paint!
And so far, I have participated in some 100 plein air events all over the country, plus a couple of dozen more just-for-fun plein air paint-outs with many of my colleagues. I have had the good fortunate to paint with some of the best painters in the country, which has been a boatload of fun, an incredible learning experience, and a hell of a way to spend a day! I love watercolor for it’s incredible luminosity, the challenge of visualizing & planning the lights & darks backwards, the ability to work quickly with loose washes and gestures, or to slow down and provide sharpness where I need or want it, but mostly I love the peace of plein air painting.
I am a signature member of the American Impressionists Society, American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Missouri and Kansas Watercolor Society, Outdoor Painters Society, President Emeritus of The American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI), Faculty Department of Architecture at the University of Kansas 1977-1985, Faculty Artist at the 11th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo 2024 & The 5th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo 2016, and Faculty Artist at Streamline’s 3rd Annual Watercolor Live 2023. I have been the Featured Artist in Plein Air Magazine, “Playing Within the Lines”, February/March 2022; Special Feature in Plein AIr Magazine, “Deep In The Heart Of West Texas”, June/July 2020; Featured Artist in Plein Air Magazine, Aug/Sept 2014; Best Overall Watercolor for the Apr/May Plein Air Salon Competition. Streamline Publishing video to be released in 2024. Plein Air events, art associations, and related awards: Lighthouse Art Center 2016, 2022, 2024, 1st Place Quick Draw 2016; Grand Prize 2022, Artists Choice & Best Architecture 2024; Plein Air Easton 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024, Best Architecture 2012, Historic Preservation 2013, Best Use of Light & Honorable Mention 2017, & Honorable Mention 2019, Life of a Waterman Award 2023; En Plein Air Texas 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Best Architectural Award 2014. Award of Distinction 2018. Award of Distinction Mini Pearl 2019. Texas Precious Water Award 2020. Best Body Of Work 2021. 2nd Place Quick Paint 2022. Texas Precious Water Award 2023; Cape Ann Plein Air 2016, 2017,2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, Neptune Harvest Award 2016. Neptune Harvest Award 2017. Best Watercolor 2018. Best Maritime 2019. Working Waterfront Award 2022; Telluride Plein Air 2012, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2nd Place Artist Choice Award 2018. Shadows-on-the-Teche 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2nd Place 2018. Honorable Mention 2019. Honorable Mention 2022. Honorable Mention 2023; Door County Plein AIr 2014, 2015. Estes Valley Plein Air 2021, 2022, 2023, Gold Award, 1st Place Miniatures Award, & Quick Paint 3rd Place 2021. 2nd Place, Wine Label Award, 1st Place Quick Paint, 1st Place Minatures Award 2022. 2nd Place, 2nd Place Quick Paint, 1st Place Minatures Award 2023; Paint Grand Traverse 2019 & 2021, Award of Recognition 2019, 1st Place Quick Paint 2021, Honorable Mention 2021; Solomon Plein Air 2016 & 2017, Honorable Mention 2016, 3rd Place Sunset Quick Draw & Honorable Mention 2017; Paint The Pennisula 2016, 2017, 2018, Best Architecture 2016, Best Waterscape & Peoples Choice 3rd Place 2017; Stems Plein Air Paint 2011, 2013, 2014, 2020, Best of Show 2011. 1st & 2nd Place Watercolor 2011, 3rd Place Watercolor 2013, 1st Place Watercolor 2014, & Best of Show 2020; Plein Air Richmond 2013, 2014, 1st Place in Fast & Fresh 2013. Honorable Mention 2014. Easels in Frederick 2013, 1st Place in Quick Paint; American Impressionist Society 2021, All Member Paint Out Best of Show Award; American Watercolor Society, Bud & Gretchen Marble Award 2021; Adirondacks National Exhibition Of American Watercolors 2018, 2021, Old Forge Hardware Store Award 2018, The Segaul Family Award 2021; Plein Air Magazine’s 6th Annual Plein Air Salon Winners, Honorable Mention; Plein Air Magazine’s 6th Annual Bi-Monthly Apr/May 2017, Dec 2016/Jan 2017, Oct/Nov 2016, & Aug/Sept 2016 Plein Air Salon Awards, 2nd Place, Best Artist over 60 (Apr/May), Best Sketchbook (Dec/Jan), Best Building, Best Nocturne (Oct/Nov), Best Watercolor (Aug/Sept); Plein Air Magazine’s 5th Annual Bi-Monthly Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Plein Air Salon Awards, Best Plein Air; Outdoor Painters Society Plein Air Southwest Salon 2014, 2016, 2017, Dick Blick Art Materials Award for Excellence 2014, Honorable Mention 2016 & 2017; Wayne Plein Art Center Plein Air Festival 2017 & 2015, Canson Award 2017, Honorable Mention 2015; Missouri Valley Impressionist Society Juried Exhibition 2012, 2014, & 2018, 2022, 2nd Place 2022, Best of Show 2012, 2nd Place 2014, Best of Show 2018, Award Of Merit 2020.
I am currently represented by Art Gallery Prudencia in San Antonio, TX, and McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
