Artwork

Artist’s Statement

Over the past few years, spending about nine months a year in Florida, I’ve come to appreciate the unique beauty of life along the southern Gulf Coast. It’s a landscape unlike that of upstate New York - not better or worse, just strikingly different. Here the land is flat, in contrast to the rolling hills of Northern New York, and this openness allows the sky to dominate every view. The ever-shifting clouds play with the light in mesmerizing ways, creating endless visual interest.

The beach is the most obvious place to observe this dance of light and sky, especially at sunrise or sunset. Yet, my inspiration often begins at dawn, watching the sun rise over the small body of water behind our home - much as it once rose over the ridge on the east side of Skaneateles Lake. Dawn remains a sacred time for me, a moment when the world is quiet and I can witness the full range of light: from bold rays of sunshine to the soft mists that blur the distant shoreline. It’s a time full of promise and mystery, hinting at what the day might reveal.

Why Watercolors: 

In art school, I primarily painted with oils and explored printmaking and ceramics. A few years into painting on my own, I realized that my house and even my clothes were saturated with the smell of turpentine and linseed oil. That’s when I decided to make the switch to watercolor. It wasn’t an easy transition, especially since I had never taken a formal class in the medium. Watercolor is vastly different from oil painting. I’ve come to see it as a more creative and unpredictable medium - one that has a mind of its own. Working with watercolor requires a sense of cooperation and a willingness to let go of rigid expectations. The final piece often turns out differently than I originally envisioned, but that journey-the process of discovery-is where the creativity lies. More often than not, the outcome surpasses my initial idea.

Since I never took any watercolor courses-or even workshops, though I’ve taught a few - my process is entirely homegrown. I’m not a fan of gimmicks, and watercolor seems to attract more than its share. For me, it all starts with an idea - that’s the hard part - an inspiration. From there, I let my mind and hand work together with the pigment and water. Hopefully, together, we create something that feels like a memorable journey.