I have been drawing ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil. My grandfather was an artist so I would take my drawings to him and he would help me with my shadows and getting the right perspective on my work. In 1978 when I started painting, I took informal lessons from a friend of mine that was a successful artist. I took lessons for about a year to learn colors and how to work the paint on my board. After a while I decided I would learn more on my own through trial and error.

Animals, especially wildlife, are my favorite subjects to paint. I love to bring life to my paintings by capturing their personality through their eyes. I enjoy painting all types of animals. Wildlife, pets, and domestic farm animals all bring joy to me as I paint them. In addition to painting animals I also enjoy painting barn scenes and rural country scenes.

Some of my current works are a painting of wolves, a couple elk paintings, several cougar paintings, a local raccoon, several eagle paintings, bear, deer, horses, several dog and cat paintings.

My medium of choice is oil.

I started showing in local and regional art shows shortly after I started painting and have received many awards including several best of shows and people’s choice awards. I have been accepted to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Nature Art Festival in Jamestown, NY, for the past several years. I have shown in the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts at State College in PA, the Wilson Gallery Art Show in New Jersey, and the Judge’s Choice on the internet. I have been excepted to the Harness Track of America National Art Show almost every year since I first entered in 1980. I have received two Special Excellence Awards from this show, which was quite an honor to me.

I live in a small village in rural Pennsylvania where we are surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest. There are several small farms and much wildlife all around our home. I get my inspiration through the beautiful scenery and animals in our forest and on the farms.