After graduation from the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida I went on to my first job with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. There I met and married Carol, and after two years we left the Midwest for work in Manhattan. Five years in advertising helped me decide to make painting my full time career, by doing the outdoor art shows. It was a daring move but, since 1974, I have been supporting myself as a full time watercolorist. I began with landscape as my main subject matter but, gradually still life seemed to be my primary focus. Soon the idea of working with contrast in my paintings became important to me and our collection of antiques was a great inspiration. I turned toward the play of light against dark, warm against cool color and hard against soft edges. The give and take of these forces still holds great importance in my work. The entire painting is done with a brush. I use Windsor and Newton watercolors with Arches 300 pound paper. My technique is based on a lot of "dry brush" work and glazes. In other words, I do not flood the paper with water to create a soggy surface, since the paint is not as diluted as usual, the color remains exceptionally vibrant. Some of my awards include:

Best in Show:	Lakewood Art Festival Lakewood, Ohio	2000
	Shrimp Festival Fernandina Beach, Florida	2000 & 1997
	Allentown Art Festival Buffalo, New York	1998
	Arts and Apples Rochester, Michigan	1997 & 1995
	Upper Arlington Art Festival Upperarlington, Ohio	1995
First Place:	Fall Festival Dunedin, Florida	1999
	Boston Mills Art Festival Boston Mills, Ohio	1998
	Winter Park Art Festival Winter Park, Florida	1998
	Baptist Hospital Art Show Miami, Florida	1998, 1997 & 1992
	Mayfaire Lakeland, Florida	1997
	Mainsail St. Petersburg, Florida	1996
	South Miami Art Show South Miami, Florida	1997, 1996 & 1994
	Coconut Grove Miami, Florida	1996
	Plantation Art Festival Plantation, Florida	1996 & 1995
	Allentown Art Festival Buffalo, New York	1993