Biography:

Born in Columbus, Ohio and currently reside in New Carlisle, Ohio

I took my first painting class in 1979 and I haven’t stopped painting since. I continued to study painting at Wright State University with George Creamer, Ernie Koerlin, Kim Kiaser and Jerry McDowell.

During my junior year I applied to Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture under the suggestion of George Creamer, who was teaching painting and drawing at WSU in a two-year position. I was accepted and went for the summer of 1981. It was an incredible experience, every art star from the best universities and schools were there. I was one of four undergraduates at the time, so everyone else was very far along in their work. Many artists were there to create work for a master’s thesis or gallery show or some other important reason. Many of my peers were very generous with their thoughts and concerns. It was so exciting to see such diverse work and approaches in one place. I was very influenced by Milton Resnick whose love of paint has stayed with me to this day. This experience opened up more possibilities concerning the painting world. I fell in love with the New York School of Abstract Expressionists.

I finished my BFA in 1982, rented a studio at Front Street and painted for several years on my own before applying to graduate school. I explored a range of materials and methods, moving between abstraction and figurative concerns to find the issues that fit my nature.

In 1985 I attended Parsons School of Art in New York City and received a Masters in painting in 1987. There I studied with Paul Resika, Leland Bell, and John Heliker. The experience of living in New York itself, galleries and museums have all shaped much of my view of painting. I also spent a semester painting in Provincetown, MA and that is where I began painting landscapes. I loved the light.

I returned to Dayton and have been painting and showing nationally. My work is represented in several museums, corporate collections and institutions. I have taught painting and drawing from 1988-1993 for many of the colleges and universities in the immediate area. I have worked as the Visual Resource Curator for the University of Dayton from 1992-2007 and have taught in their study abroad programs in Italy and France. Both trips influenced my work. Italy strengthens my sense of composition and France brought out a sense of color and light. On my own, I recently traveled to India where my current subject has come into the work.

My influences are still from the painting world. As a Visual Resource Curator, the history of art is always present in my work. As I have aged, I am more aware and influenced by the body and it’s relationship to the world around me.