The story of music and maps

As a child, we moved around a lot. The road atlas grounded me. I would stare at the colors and lines and see images within the shapes. It was the only structure I knew at the time.

In grade school, art was an escape, not a pursuit. I went to college to study mechanical engineering and took a drawing class as an elective. My professor encouraged me to change my major to art.

I was in art school in the 90’s; alternative grunge music influenced my creative development. This laid the foundation of my future style.

Technically my work is a modern exploration of formal art elements in drawing and painting. Conceptually it is about creating a visual language grounded in my love of music and maps. The rhythm of a song guides my initial marks. As I build the layers of color and lines, shapes emerge. The process is intuitive and spontaneous.

I was born and grew up near Detroit, Michigan. I earned an undergraduate degree in painting and psychology from Central Michigan University, a master’s degree in art therapy from Wayne State University, and studied art and cognition at the doctoral level in Seattle, WA. I organize my approach as left brain and right brain studies.

Throughout my formal training in art, I was primarily influenced by abstract expressionism, cubism, and color field painting. Gorky, Diebenkorn, Kandinsky, Klee, and Picasso each influenced my theory or approach. I’ve always been drawn to the honesty and directness of modernism. Midcentury modern is my favorite design era.

When not painting, I spend as much time as I can hiking. My happy place is deep in the woods, hiking along a river near the mountains. You can find me at outdoor fine art festivals around the country. I love being outside interacting directly with my clients. I currently teach and paint in Jacksonville, Florida.

Thank you for visiting my site. Reach out if you’d like to discuss a commission of your favorite song.