Tell us briefly about your background and how you got started in your medium.

I never touched a watercolor brush until age 50, so it’s never too late to jump in and try your hand at creating. My wife took painting classes from local artist Dave Lenker at the Harrisburg Art Association and that got me interested. A few years later I signed up for a class and was hooked.

How does your medium inform your viewpoint? What do you like most about your medium?

I like watercolor as a painting medium because you can apply the paint wet and light for a transparent look or thick and dry for a bold look. Also a nice aspect is you can be painting within minutes with little prep and be done just as quick. There’s not much fuss getting started or quitting for the day with watercolors.

Who or what have been your artistic inspiration?

My wife with her stained glass creations certainly inspires me, and a lot of our friends get together to spend the day doing individual art projects. As you can tell by my paintings I really love Vincent van Gogh’s style and bold palette.

Do you have a favorite piece in your portfolio?

Probably my attempt at van Gogh’s painting Church At Auvers.

What advice do you have for someone starting out in your medium:

I would suggest investing in good quality paper, it’s more forgiving and allows you to to repaint over a spot you might not be happy with. Taking a formal class helped me with perspective, contrasting, and shadowing but most importantly… Just Do It.
The best advice I got was from my son. He told me, “nothing matters Dad, it’s art”.