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“My Art Journey: Painting and Perspectives"
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Landscape Painting Process: Chaos, Lines, and Instinct
My landscape art process is driven by rhythm, instinct, and letting the canvas guide me, without following any rules. I paint anywhere—beaches, foothills, fields—because the location doesn't matter. It's all about the lines, colors, and the rhythm of the process. Painting is trial and error; I put paint down, move it around, and stop when I'm too tired to keep going, then grab another canvas.
Skateboarder Art: More Than Tricks and Stunts
My painting of a skateboarder at Ventura Point captures more than motion; it’s about the pause. She’s standing on the promenade, looking at the waves. It’s not about showing off—it’s about soaking in the moment, the connection between land, sea, and wheels. That’s what skateboarding feels like: finding calm between the chaos.
An Artist's Reflection on Abstract Art
Some people just can't handle the fact that Picasso and Pollock exist. They want nothing more than a steady diet of fruit bowls and horse portraits. But you know what they say - if a bunch of bright shapes on a canvas is enough to rock your worldview, maybe that's your problem, not mine.
Why I Paint the Tidepools.
Tidepools are like little worlds on their own—a reminder of nature’s small-scale beauty, alive and full of mystery. These miniature ocean pockets show the sea’s larger rhythms. It’s nature’s way of showing us life in the overlooked, and I try to bring this in my art.
The Art of a Left-Handed Catcher
This painting captures the rare essence of a left-handed catcher in baseball, a player rewriting the rules of the game. With laser throws to third base without standing up, this catcher defies tradition and embodies grit, skill, and rebellion. The artwork explores the challenges left-handed catchers face, showing the thrill of breaking norms with powerful throws and fierce determination. It’s a striking portrayal of an unconventional player redefining what it means to own the plate.
Finding Reality in Abstract Painting
I’m not painting exact scenes or locations – it's more like closing my eyes and feeling the ocean, imagining that wild surf crashing, the water swirling, the waves pulling back and then charging forward again. To me, it’s about capturing that raw, alive feeling of being in that moment – like standing chest-deep in the ocean, completely lost in it
A Cat's Critique: Finding Art in the Everyday
When your toughest art critic is a cat with opinions about mountains, you know you're in for an interesting day in the studio. Living on the edge of urban and rural life gives me a unique perspective; one day I'm painting cityscapes, the next I'm capturing the gentle roll of farmland that stretches just beyond our neighborhood. These solo painting trips are my form of meditation. It's just me, my easel, and the landscape—no phone notifications, no deadlines, just the quiet conversation between artist and nature, while my cat casts judgmental glances at my canvases.
Fight Against Propaganda: “Too Much Bullshit” in Art
Art should be real, but these days, it’s often dressed up to look like something it’s not, and in my painting "Too Much Bullshit," A person is holding up a sign as a stand against the nonsense we’re constantly fed online. I’m searching for real art beneath all the fluff, glitter, and gloss—an attempt to break through the surface and get to something honest. People think they’re seeing the truth on social media, but most of the time, it’s filtered, so with "Too Much Bullshit," I’m calling out these empty visuals to keep authenticity alive.
Artists Inspire Each Other in a Creative Loop
Gillian and I got to talking about how artists inspire each other. And that I had inspired some of her art students. It’s like this never-ending cycle of creativity. One artist creates something, and it sparks an idea in another artist, who then creates something new. It’s a beautiful, contagious process.
Painting Autumn: the Season’s Changing Beauty
Painting fall outdoors feels like capturing a fleeting moment in motion. Each brushstroke brings the unpredictability of the season to life, reflecting that hesitant quality—the unsure, unfolding beauty that makes autumn feel alive. With thick, impasto strokes, I let the deep, warm colors of fall spill across the canvas. It’s more than copying nature; it’s celebrating the bold arrival of amber and gold against the memory of summer’s green, each stroke a burst of change. Embracing fall’s tentative nature, my paintings capture its quiet start and the energy in every fading leaf. It’s raw, a bit messy, and all about bringing autumn’s hesitant hand to life.
Turning Maps into Art: A Commission to Remember
Maps are like art—they show more than just geography; they capture how a place feels. In this commission, the colors and shapes of counties felt like pieces of a bigger story. Seeing my client hang California’s map in his Florida home (and vice versa!) made me realize that maps can create new ways of seeing home. Each place carries its own poetry, and that’s what I wanted to capture
Plein Air: Painting Feelings, Not Scenes
andscape; I’m in it, reacting to it. The sound of wind through the trees, the smell of the earth, or the way the sky shifts color as the sun drops—it all filters into my work. Even though the result might not resemble what’s in front of me, it feels like I’ve captured something real.
World Series, Baseball Art, and October Reflections
Painting baseball isn’t just about a game; it’s capturing moments we don’t want to let go of. Each piece is a small tribute, a way of keeping the thrill of game day alive. For me, it’s like the season never ends—I get to relive it every time I pick up a brush.
The Silent Confidence of a Hockey Goalie
Watching her play is wild; she moves like a cat, snagging pucks and making impossible saves with no flair—just quiet confidence, and there’s something reassuring about knowing your goalie is steady, not arrogant, but confident without needing to show off, so when teams in my son-in-law’s league are picking players, it’s no surprise—they pick the girl because she’s got grit and no complaints.
Painting Jeff Ho: A Look Behind the Legend of the Z-Boys
Painting Jeff Ho was an experience I didn’t fully appreciate until later. At first, it was just about his interesting face and those surfboards hanging on his car. But learning about his legacy in the surf and skate world made me realize I’d captured more than just a portrait—I’d connected with a piece of history, one that still shapes Venice Beach culture. Jeff was one of the original Z-Boys, a group that revolutionized skateboarding and surfing culture in the '70s.
The Human Side of Painting Farmland in Impressionistic Style
What really touches me most is the human side of farmland. Winter and fall expose the bone structure of the land, and that’s what I love to capture in my art—the feeling of raw honesty that comes through those bare fields. When I paint a landscape, it’s not about copying the scene exactly. I want to capture the emotion, the meaning behind it.
Motorcycles: Painting Them Is Safer Than Riding Them!
Transmission Brewing, just steps from my studio, recently hung one of my largest pieces—a vintage motorcycle painting measuring 5 feet by 7 feet, prominently displayed across from a 10-foot painting of a travel trailer. As a teen, a single terrifying ride on my friend's 250cc motorcycle deterred me from becoming a rider. Instead, I express my love for motorcycles through my art, capturing their essence of freedom, adventure, and a hint of recklessness.
The Farmer and the Artist: Creating Something from Nothing
Living in a big farming community in Ventura means I’m surrounded by agricultural fields, where farmers and artists share a special bond, both creating something from nothing. Standing in those fields and staring at the endless rows of crops, I can’t help but feel that connection. While farmers plant seeds and watch them grow, I’m over here trying to mix the right colors to bring a scene to life.
From Ringside to Canvas: My Journey with Boxing Art
Friday nights were all about watching boxing with my stepdad. Our old black and white TV brought us together. The ring is like a canvas. Every boxer is an artist, painting with resilience and strength. This painting of boxing gloves? It's not just about boxing. It's about my journey and the bond with my stepdad.
A Break from the Studio: Painting Landscapes in the Open Air
Explore the transformative experience of painting outdoors, where the freedom of nature inspires creativity. Step away from the studio to embrace the alla prima technique, capturing fleeting moments in a single sitting. This refreshing break fosters mindfulness, allowing for a deeper connection to the surroundings. Each painting is a testament to the beauty and imperfection found in nature.