praire dog
Welcome to my website centering on my artwork, but additionally, other things I find to be important in this world. I was born in the great city of Cleveland, Ohio and my heart will forever be there. Growing up I took art classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art (www.clevelandart.org) and went camping with my parents and brother during summer vacations. Little did I realize at the time, but these childhood experiences would significantly impact the rest of my life. The natural world and the art world are the places where I feel the most comfortable, happy and at ease. I do not enjoy or want to be any part of the seemingly endless takeover of technology, reality television and fast food culture against our connection and appreciation of the natural world, the arts, and the wonders of other cultures throughout the planet. I fear that societies appreciation of these things are slowly being replaced by the instant satisfaction/immediate gratification which comes with iphones, access to the internet everywhere and at anytime, living through the lives of “celebrities” like Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, Jersey Shore idiots, etc.
Glorious sushi!!!
My artwork focuses mainly on the natural world, and the plants and animals which call that world home. There are more interestingstorylines found in nature than in any television show. My work celebrates this world, trying to capture its beauty and bring it into the homes of people throughout the world. I enjoy focusing on the little, under- appreciated creatures in the natural world like lizards, or trying to capture the personality and mood of animal through its eyes and posture. Animals have personalities, feelings and needs just like us. Only, they know how to live in harmony with the natural world unlike our species.
The atrocities and horror inflicted onto the natural world by the species, homo sapien, gives me another purpose for my artwork. We just don’t seem to realize how much we are damaging our home, and we are not learning from our mistakes. I hope that my more violent, bloody statement pieces can somehow knock some sense into whoever views them and can at least make the viewer think: “I can’t believe what have we done, I can’t believe that we are continuing to do it, and what can I do to help stop it.” We unfortunately live in a world where money talks, where money takes precedence over common sense, takes precedence over the evolution of mankind to a higher state of being, takes precedence over being good. other things that capture my interest and therefore become subjects for my art.
Shonto Begay and myself at my exhibit in Flagstaff
When people see my artwork, I want them to feel the power and healing strength that can come from the natural world . I want my artwork to inspire others to care and fight for the environment. And I will always be willing to donate work or do a commissioned piece for a discounted amount if it will be used for the benefit of nature.
Though I’m constantly in awe of nature, there are many other subjects which capture my imagination as well. My hometown of Cleveland, exotic scenes from countries I have travelled, people whom I admire and have inspired me, favorite foods, the curves of a womans body, all are beautiful and deserved to be rendered as art.
snowboarding on Mt. Fuji
- art gives me a boner!!
dresses are so comfortable!!!
kayaking with orcas!!!
Farm I stayed on in Iceland
Icelandic sunset