'Here A Bird, There A Bird, Everywhere A Bird'

New Exhibit – New Location

Imagine standing in a Nebraska field on a brisk morning in that hour just before the sun comes up and you can hear them.  Thousands of what you think could be birds belonging to the Jurrasic rise up from the river a mile away. They absolutely fill the sky as they pass over you, drowning your senses with their prehistoric calls – birds as big as you, some flying as low as 30 feet. Only 2 months ago we had Sandhills migrating up north for nesting. It is a magical experience, and I recommend it for everyone.

Birds are an undying inspiration for me; not only are there a seemingly endless number of them, but their range of emotion and behavior is equal to ours.  Because of this, birds are a great source for understanding the human condition. My art works to appreciate this about them while simultaneously celebrating their shape, color, and inspiring energy.

To cover so much ground I choose to use a wide variety of materials, including: wood, fiberglass, fabric, chalk pastel, watercolor, oil paint, and most recently – woodblock prints.  I don’t really consider them paintings of birds – but more like a conversation between my joy of birds and my passion as an artist.

I work from my own photos, which gives me the opportunity to travel and see all sorts of birds and ecosystems. My work does not always start with the photo, though, sometimes it starts with an idea for a composition or even just a canvas shape I want to try out.  It is all about the variety of making – and it fits seamlessly with the variety in birdwatching.  And it is the variety that keeps me coming back for more.