About the Artist

Drawing and painting have been my lifelong passions. From a young age, I found joy in capturing the world around me, starting with my cat, Kitty, as he slept in his favorite chair. My early pencil sketches aimed to capture his likeness as realistically as possible, and over time, this pursuit expanded to encompass people, flowers, and still-life subjects. As I honed my skills, I became drawn to the works of master artists such as Johannes Vermeer, Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David, and Rembrandt van Rijn, whose mastery of light and form continues to inspire me. I am also deeply influenced by trompe l'oeil artists like Adrian Coorte and Pere Borrell del Caso, whose techniques challenge the boundaries between illusion and reality.

My style is rooted in realism, with recent works veering toward superrealism. In 1994, I made a pivotal decision to shift my academic focus to art, enrolling in painting courses at George Mason University, followed by further art studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and the University of North Carolina Charlotte. It was during this time that I discovered the transformative power of oil painting. The ability to make my subjects appear as tangible and real as life itself was captivating, and oil on canvas became my medium of choice.

After a period of stepping away from my art to focus on family and career, my creative journey resumed in 2019, when a visit to an art gallery in Jackson, WY rekindled my love for painting. That moment marked a decision to return to my passion full-time. Since then, I have been fortunate to show my work in several locations, including Gallery 202 Roanoke and most recently, the Market Gallery Roanoke.  I was honored with "Best in Show" at the Smith Mountain Arts Council's 35th Annual Art Show in 2024.  And I recently took part in the 2026 Open Studios Tour Roanoke show in Roanoke, Virginia.

With every brushstroke, my aim remains the same: to capture the world with as much lifelike detail and emotion as possible, creating works that invite the viewer to pause, reflect, and engage with the beauty and intricacies of our surroundings.