I am a Long Island painter. I work both outdoors, painting “en plein air” as well as in my studio, painting “en basement air”.

Working primarily with oils on either canvas or wood panels, I paint in a loose, realistic manner.

The style and color of my work is the result of the many years that I've painted outdoors. Outside, where the colors are fresh and true, the sun is always on the move. In order to keep ahead of the changing light, I've learned how to paint with confidence and a sense of urgency that prevents me from over-thinking the painting.

When I paint in my studio, where I often use my own photos for reference, I rely on the skills I've developed as a plein air painter to give my studio work a sense of freshness and air.

By working in the studio, where I can take my time, I paint larger pictures with more complicated scenes. What excites me about this work is the use of subject matter as a key element in the design of the painting. I am interested in creating pictures that have an emotional charge and convey my take on the world.

This has also carried over to my plein air work. Now when I paint outdoors, I look for scenes that allow me to convey emotions through the subjects I choose.

Bee hives, beach totems, home-made roadside religious sanctuaries, a dashboard Hula Girl, are among the things I have painted because when I saw them they made me feel something extra-ordinary. And because they are metaphors to me, when I paint them, I am able to convey the beauty and wonder I feel as I experience this journey of life that we all share.