Still life speed painting from life

My painting practice is rooted in a lifelong fascination with how we translate the visual world onto a two-dimensional surface. While my early education was a mix of fantasy illustration and a deep dive into Renaissance masters like Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci, my current work is defined by the immediacy of the alla prima approach and a dedication to direct observation from life.

My Artistic Journey

Although I initially explored the sciences and eventually earned a degree in Fine Art with a focus on sculpture, these experiences—along with fifteen years in graphic design—honed my understanding of three-dimensional form and composition. Since 2010, I have returned to my primary passion: oil painting. I’ve traded the conceptual weight of my earlier career for a practice that prioritizes the direct visual experience.

Philosophy & Process

My work is largely apolitical and observational. I am less interested in explicit narrative and more focused on responding to what I see in the moment, interpreting light and form through the medium of paint.

Approach: I work primarily alla prima, capturing the essence of a subject in a single session whenever possible.

Influences

I find my greatest inspiration in the American and Russian Impressionist traditions. My aesthetic is a dialogue with the past and present, drawing heavily from the works of:

Historical masters I respect include J.S. Sargent, Anders Zorn, Nikolai Fechin, and Ilya Repin.

Contemporary masters I look to include Richard Schmid amongst others.

Recognition

Over the last several years, my dedication to this craft has led to features in several leading industry publications, including Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector, and International Artist Magazine. These platforms have allowed me to share my observational philosophy with a global audience of fellow painters and collectors.