Welcome

Thank you once again for subscribing; it is a privilege to be able to share my paintings with you.

To welcome you, I’ve created this page displaying a selection of recent paintings, studies, and prints, as well as sharing more about myself and the process I use to create these paintings.

The Inspiration

"Lemons and Glass Creamer"oil on panel, 5x5 inches

“Lemons and Glass Creamer”
oil on panel, 5×5 inches

These paintings grow out of a two sources: On the one hand, a deep love for the great still life tradition of the Dutch Golden Age, and on the other, a life-long interest in meditation.

For both viewer and artist, still life is the perfect opportunity to have that experience which all meditation seems to aim at: complete and total absorption in the present moment. Not the past. Not the future. Just what is in front of you. Right here. Right now.

That moment of quiet, intense connection – that sense of one-ness – is all the inspiration I need… and these paintings emerge from that source.

As such, this isn’t really a personal art. It’s not about me or my views or my ideas.

My role is to step aside, and let these silent moments speak through me.

And there isn’t anything more personal.

“Lemons and Glass Creamer”
oil on panel, 5×5 inches

These paintings grow out of a two sources: On the one hand, a deep love for the great still life tradition of the Dutch Golden Age, and on the other, a life-long interest in meditation.

That moment of quiet, intense connection – that sense of one-ness – is all the inspiration I need… and these paintings emerge from that source.

As such, this isn’t really a personal art. It’s not about me or my views or my ideas.

My role is to step aside, and let these silent moments speak through me.

And there isn’t anything more personal.

How These Paintings Are Made

These paintings are created by a process that can take weeks – even months – to complete.

This three stage method – known as the Flemish Technique – has been used by artists for over five centuries to create paintings that can reflect a stunning degree of realism.

First, a drawing is made on the canvas or panel the artist has prepared. This can be a simple outline of forms, but more often contains much of the detail that will be present in the finished painting.

Second, a black and white version is painted over the drawing. Called an underpainting, it allows the artist to understand of the patterns of light and dark as well as create 3-dimensional form – without the complexity of mixing color. In a way, it also serves as a dress rehearsal for the final painting. It must be set aside for a week or two to dry before proceeding.

Finally, a layer of full color is applied on top of the underpainting. This is what you see when looking at a finished painting made in this way.

Even small paintings made using this process can take weeks to complete – longer with larger and more complex paintings. At any given time, there are typically multiple paintings in progress through the three stages.

Once completed, the paintings need additional time to dry – a minimum of one month – before a protective coat of varnish can be applied.

The drawing on a prepared panel

The underpainting

The color layer in progress

These paintings are created by a process that can take weeks – even months – to complete.

This three stage method – known as the Flemish Technique – has been used by artists for over five centuries to create paintings that can reflect a stunning degree of realism.

Finally, a layer of full color is applied on top of the underpainting. This is what you see when looking at a finished painting made in this way.

Once completed, the paintings need additional time to dry – a minimum of one month – before a protective coat of varnish can be applied.

About Me

I came to painting later than most artists.

My formal education was in music (violin and composition), yet after school I found my way into a practical career as a computer programmer.

Painting was always an intense curiosity for me, though.

So, for my 30th birthday, I purchased a small oil painting kit. This weekend hobby took on a life of its own, and after several years I left my comfortable life in technology to pursue this more uncertain – and much more satisfying – path.

I have painted still life exclusively for the last dozen years. I find it to be the perfect synthesis of tradition and exploration, and for me it is the ideal vehicle to search for both the inner and outer light.

I am deeply honored that over 700 collectors have chosen to bring my paintings into their homes, with many of them collecting multiple works.

I came to painting later than most artists.

My formal education was in music (violin and composition), yet after school I found my way into a practical career as a computer programmer.

Painting was always an intense curiosity for me, though.

I am deeply honored that over 700 collectors have chosen to bring my paintings into their homes, with many of them collecting multiple works.

Artist's Statement

“Still life is a quiet art form – it’s right there in the name itself.

A good still life painting draws the viewer into a calm, centered place, allowing silence to arise while the outside world falls away for a little while.

If it makes me feel like time has stopped while I’m looking at it, I know it’s a good still life.

If one of my own paintings gives the viewer that experience, then it has succeeded.”

Explore Further

I’d like to invite you to continue exploring my website.

To read a more in-depth description of how I create these paintings, visit my Process page.

For a selection of my favorite paintings, visit my Selected Paintings page.

The Color Studies page shows my sketches and studies.

Paintings that collectors have brought into their homes can be seen at the Recently Sold page.

Available Paintings is a gallery of paintings that can be purchased today.

Ready-to-hang reproductions are on my Prints page

Once again, welcome, and I look forward to sharing my new paintings with you.