Oil Painter

Capturing & Sharing Western New York State

“It’s opener, out there, in the wide, open air.” ~Dr. Seuss

I’m an oil painter from the Genesee Valley and Finger Lakes Region of western NEW YORK state.

My first attempt at painting outside on location, was a three-hour, unmitigated disaster. BUT 15 minutes in and I was hooked.

I’ve been on a Plien Air adventure ever since.

In an effort to create interesting marks, I’ve collected a wide variety of tools to fling paint and pigments around. Employing a wide variety of tools, beyond traditional brushes, bends my style towards Abstracted Realism.

I use familiar settings and memories as jumping off points to explore the places and history of my known universe deeper and farther.

I am influenced by a lifetime of fresh-air adventures, exploring the world around me, and am often drawn back to capture places of my youth before they are lost to both time and progress.

I am drawn to capturing scenes which often display both the organic, unrestrained growth of nature, set into context by the straight lines of man-made intrusions into these spaces … or of natures efforts to reclaim them from us.

When forced into the studio I look for subjects with a history too.

It’s the history of the place or object I aim to capture and share with you.

2025

Juried Show - 20th Annual GVPAP Plein Air Art Show

JUROR: Julie Riker

2024

Juried Show - Rochester Art Club 2024 Show

JUROR: Luis Alvarez Roure

JUROR’s AWARD - “View From Kershaw Park After The Summer Rains”

Competition - Fairport Reimagine The Erie Canal Plein Air Competition

JUROR: Bill Finewood

JUROR’s AWARD - “First Light At Junction 361”

Juried Show - Pittsford Fine Arts 2024 Show

JUROR: Chris Stash

JUROR’s AWARD - “Dockmaster’s Trolley Station At Winter’s Low Tide”

Group Show - Dove Block Gallery

Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters - Member’s Show

Group Show - Fresh Air - Fresh Art : Plein Air Showcase

Greater Rochester Plein Air Painters - Member’s Show

Group Show - Anthony Road Winery

Anthony Road Winery - Plein Air Event Summer Show 2024

Competition - Center For The Arts - Portrait Of A Place Plein Air Competition

JUROR: Donna Atwood

First Place - Oil Paints - “Homer’s Water Street Bridge”

Solo Show - Junction 361

It Takes A Village: Progress & Memories Of A Hometown”

2023

Competition - Fairport Reimagine The Erie Canal Plein Air Competition

Honorable Mention (Oil) - “Ol’ Fishing Spot”

Some days it’s oil paint.

Some days it’s cat hair.

Most days I’m covered in both.

…. It’s why we can’t have nice things.