What is your medium now? (oils, acrylic, pastel, watercolor...) What medium have you always wanted to use, but haven't yet? What mediums have you used in the past? Why do you prefer your current medium?

My primary medium of choice is oil and I love to experiment with different surfaces. As a painter I am not satisfied until I can place a light over a dark. I also have been using Gouache, which also allows the painter to achieve the same result plus it is so easy to take on location. I have used pastels and love the process but find it difficult to keep paintings because of their fragility. I do have a full set and plan to dust them off in the future. I have always wanted to sculpt the figure, I'll save that for later though, too many things to work out with my current medium.

What colors are on your palette? Why?

I have decreased the number of colors I use, I find that although it was difficult in the beginning to modulate various shades, It is so much easier once you get a system down, plus it lends a cohesive feel to the painting. My staples are Cad Yellow Light, Cad Scarlet, Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Ivory Black and Titanium White. (I use Raw Umber for my underpainting/drawing and occasionally Viridian in doing figure). Often times I'll just put three versions of the primary colors out and do quick studies to see what kind of results I get.

Who or what got you interested in plein air painting?

My interest in plein air painting was a direct result of a need to get out of the studio on nice days. It was a conflict for me when I had free time to paint and had to do it indoors on nice days. That prompted me to take my gear outside and as we all know that was a very humbling experience!

How do you measure your personal progress as an artist? (I am not referring to sales or shows)

I measure progress in my artistic journey as those moments where either a thought, a process or a technique change my course into another direction.

When did you first want to become an artist? (And when did you realize you were one?) Did you draw or paint as a child? What were your subjects?

I knew I wanted to become a painter after I was one of six winner of the Ronald McDonald coloring contest at the age of 7. I was on the local 6PM news with 5 other Children. We had to paint a pre-drawn cartoon of the McDonalds characters. I'll never forget the awful synthetic brush and 6 gaudy watercolor pans. I do wish I kept them along with the $50 bond prize, which was cashed in long ago.

Are there any other artists in your family? (including all the arts)

I am the only one in a very large family. There are a few of my nieces and nephews that are creative, but none actually paint or draw.

Do you have a favorite art quote that inspires you?

I think it would have to be the one which states something like "a good painting is never finished, it just stops at an interesting place".

Which artists (past or present) do you turn to for inspiration? Why?

I will often refer to Nikolai Timkov, the Russian Impressionist, whenever I want to be inspired by a true plein air painter. In looking at his paintings, you just know that he endured the elements and was in pursuit of nature. I can feel the temperature in his paintings.

If you could travel anywhere to paint, where would you go and what would you like to paint?

It would surely be the Italian countryside, for a long, long time.

What painting would you love to have hanging in your home? Why?

There are so many, but today I feel it would be a figure by Amedeo Modigliani. I love his simple composition and paint quality. I am probably most intrigued with what he could have been since he died so young.