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?

I am using oil paints now. I began painting primarily in oils when in college, but afterwards went through several periods in which I used other media, specifically, watercolors, pastels, gouache, and acrylic. Acrylics were my main media for several years when I was working as an illustrator. But when I really began to paint outside I found that they dried too fast for me. So I switched back to oils and have used them almost exclusively ever since. Some people can easily switch back and forth between different media, but I am sort of a narrow minded person of limited intelligence who has enough of a struggle trying to become accomplised in one medium.

Do you do preliminary sketches before painting your subject? In a sketchbook? Or directly on the canvas or paper? Why?

I prefer to sketch in paint right on my canvas. When inspired by a scene I like to just jump into the painting and compose it on the canvas. Preliminary sketches seem to slow me down and separate me from the inspiration I felt when I first viewed the scene.

What colors are on your palette? Why?

My palette differs from time to time. When using a small pochade box I sometimes use white and 3 primary colors - Permanent Alizarine Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, and Lemon Yellow. Since these tend to be "cool" colors I sometimes add a warm color such as cadmium yellow medium or cadmium orange to help fill out the warm side of the spectrum.

When using a larger pochade box or french easel the basic palette consists of 6 colors to "bracket" the three primaries. These colors are Permanent Alizarine Crimson, Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Lemon, Ultramarine Blue and either Cobalt Blue or Pthalo Blue for the last color. Unfortunately I tend to be lazy when it comes to color mixing so I often supplement these with secondary colors - Cadmium Orange, Mauve Blue Shade (a purple) and 2 greens, Viridian and Sap Green.

Now if I am doing a large painting and am using gloucester type easel and have lots of room on the palette I add yellow ocre, burnt sienna, nd occasionally, black. I know some artists feel they can get all their colors from the three primary colors, but I just like to play around with all these wonderful pools of color.

Do you prefer wood, glass or paper for your palette surface? Why?

Glass by all means - it makes it much easier to scrape off the gobs of paint. Unfortunately glass is also relatively heavy and very breakable so I only use it in the studio. Outside I use a home-made palette with plexiglass. It is easier to scrape the paint off than wood but not as good as glass.

Do you prefer to sit or stand when you are painting? Why?

I always stand. When sitting down I feel constrained and do not feel that I have the freedom of movement I desire when painting.

When do you know a painting is really finished? Or are you always wanting to "tweak" it a bit more?

Sometimes I feel they are never finished. When painting outdoors I usually stop painting when I feel that I am just playing with the painting, sort of poking and hoping. But then I take the painting home and look at it again in a day or two. Taking a fresh look always brings out obvious faults, which I feel must be corrected. Sometimes it stops there. But if I am not absolutely satisfied I line it and other questionable paintings up around my studio so I can constantly look at them. This helps me find the little things that disturb me. These I change.

What plein air supplies do you recommend having in your car for spontaneous painting?

Everything. When I am serious about painting in plein air I take my van. In it I usually carry at least 3 painting systems, a small pochade box (8x10), a medium pochde box (flexible from 8x10 to 12x16), a "Gloucester" easel to do large pieces (18x24 to 30x48), and perhaps a half size French easel in case none of the above work. You can never be too prepared.

However, if on a casual drive and not on a painting trip, at the minimum I carry an 8x10 pochade box with 8x10 and 6x8 panels. This allows me to do quick sketches if something inspires me. Recently I began experimenting with a 6x8 hand box.

What time of day are you most creative? Early morning? Afternoon? Early evening? Late at night? Which season do you feel most creative? Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer? Why?

Early Morning. I like to be up with everything set up, ready to paint, before the sun comes up. But I also like to paint as the sun sinks. It is the morning and afternoon that the colors really inspire me.

Do you support yourself from your art? Or do you have another job? Or are you retired? How does this affect your time to paint?

I am unfortunately retired with a small pension, but mostly I support myself with my art. I say unfortunately retired because I never realized how easy I had it when I worked 5 days a week and painted in the evenings and weekends. I never realized how good it was with a lot of free time for rest and relaxation. Now I work 7 days a week from morning to night and don't even get holidays off . Sure is hard being an artist.

Do you have a personal website? Did you design it? Do you maintain it? If yes, how has that helped you market your art?

I have a personal website that I designed and maintain. Occasionally I may sell a painting or two from it. However the website is used mostly to communicate with my galleries. They can find out what paintings I have available and I can keep track of where my paintings are.