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?

Mostly oil now, some pastel. Would love to try sculpting clay someday.

On the monthly paintouts, how do you decide what to paint? What draws your eye to a particular scene?

I look for fairly natural looking areas, with nice shadows, maybe reflections. Something inviting.

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

I do little sketching, but have begun to do more. I may even move to doing preliminary paintings on larger plein air works. Mostly I envision the painting in my mind.

What colors are on your palette? Why?

Permalba white, ult. Blue, sap green, sometimes viridian, aliz. Crimson, burnt sienna, cad red, cad yellow, cerulean blue. They get the range of values and hues I need most of the time.

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

I sit because of a bad lower back that makes standing extremely painful after a short period. If I absolutely must I will stand, but then it's hard to move for a while.

How do you feel about critiques? Feedback? Or do you prefer to problem solve on your own? What are the three most important things you look for when critiquing a painting? Why?

I think critiques are very helpful. I have grown up with them and welcome feedback from knowledgeable persons.

How do you think technology, especially the computer, has affected your art? Or art in general.

Technology has helped tremendously as a support tool, the painting is still the same.

Have you ever had a breakthrough moment that made you change how and why you do your art? What was it? How has your art changed over time?

My work has gotten more focused and my expectations of it have risen.

What do you think creates artistic blocks? How do you solve them?

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 have been a professional artist since leaving art school, early on supporting myself as a commercial artist, but now painting portraits and landscapes for a variety of outlets.