Blog
8/21/2026 3:55:22 PM
Introducing my newest painting - Showtime. Few horse breeds can match the elegance of Arabians. They seem to float above the ground as they trot with their heads drawn up in a regal pose. Fortunately, my home town of Scottsdale, Arizona, hosts the Scottsdale Arabian Horseshow featuring over 2,000 horses from around the world.
I met Showtime a couple of years ago at the show and finally decided to paint his portrait. I chose to depict him in an extreme closeup to focus not only on his expressive eye, but the beautifully adorned show halter.
Showtime is available as a 16” x 20” oil on board enclosed in a dark 3 ½ - inch frame. Just imagine having Showtime adorn the wall just above your office desk!
6/17/2026 3:47:33 PM
I’m happy to share my newest painting – Topknot and Blossoms – featuring one of the most beautiful and recognizable birds here in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. It’s a female Gambel’s Quail atop an old, weathered branch with a wonderful blossoming Creosote bush in the background.
I’m fortunate to live in an area of Scottsdale that still has room for wildlife to roam free. I spotted this quail right outside my studio window. Gambel’s Quail pairs usually have their youngsters in late May or early June. When the chicks eventually hatch, they’re not larger than a ping pong ball and they literally hit the ground running. Gambel’s Quail usually lay more than a dozen eggs because predators take a heavy toll on both the eggs and the little hatchlings. It’s always a treat to watch the new parents introduce the young ones to their environment as the whole family scurries along the ground.
As with all of my work, realism is the dominant objective. Topknot and Blossoms measures 16” x 20” and is painted using oils on panel.
10/25/2025 1:46:50 PM
Many years ago, I acquired a couple of ornate, hand-made Chinese bird cages which featured tiny feeding and water dishes clamped to the inside of the bamboo cage. I’ve always wanted to paint a still life of the cage along with several other items. Well, that time finally arrived and Uncaged Jewel is the result.
Given my love of wildlife, I couldn’t resist adding a tiny Anna’s Hummingbird floating above the cage. The antique cloisonné vase and the hand-painted porcelain teapot featuring tiny birds seemed like natural objects to round out the composition. I chose a dark background to provide contrast and not compete with the brightly colored objects in the still life. As with all of my work, realism was the dominant objective. Uncaged Jewel measures 16” x 20” and is painted using oils on panel.
10/25/2025 1:34:42 PM
I’m so happy to announce that I’ve recently put together a book of my paintings entitled Light & Shadow. Unlike a website or social media presence, this is an actual paper book that people can leaf through at their leisure; no Internet connection required. While it’s gratifying for me personally to have created this catalog of my work over the years, it’s also something I can show galleries and display at exhibitions where my work is being shown.
Due to the limited audience and high cost of commercially printing a book such as this, Light & Shadow will never show up on the New York Times’ best seller list – nor is it meant to. But it’s another marketing tool that will hopefully help me interest people in my work. So, for those of you who are unable to personally see me at a show or gallery, I’ve made it available to view online on my website.
Click on the cover image above to open Light & Shadow as a “flip-book” on your computer. You can then page through it using your mouse to turn the pages or by clicking the arrows at the bottom to go from one page to the next. While it’s viewable on any device, I’d recommend that you open it on a traditional large monitor for best viewing.
4/17/2025 10:40:07 AM
I am very excited to announce that one of my favorite paintings– Leonardo – has been juried into the 19th Annual International Guild of Realism exhibition. This year’s exhibit will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the beautiful Sugarman-Peterson Gallery. The exhibit will be on display from June 6 through June 30.
Founded in 2002, the International Guild of Realism’s primary mission is to advance realism in fine art through museum exhibitions, art gallery shows, workshops and education programs conducted by our members, marketing support, and internet exposure. For the past nineteen years, the Guild has showcased an international group of artists for their yearly exhibitions at various galleries throughout the United States.
Leonardo – a Jaguar-Leopard hybrid – has a special place in my heart. He was a beautiful Jaguar with an unfortunate history. Born into captivity, this wondrous creature was raised in a cage and trained for the entertainment industry. To make him easier to handle, his canine teeth were pulled as were all of his claws. When his trainers tired of him, they passed him off to a small roadside zoo in southern Arizona where he endlessly paced in a tiny 10 x 12-foot cage with little care.
Finally, the zoo no longer wanted him and Leonardo eventually found a caring home with Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) in Scottsdale, Arizona. And, that’s where I first encountered him enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. After eight loving and peaceful years at SWCC, Leonardo passed away at the age of 17 in 2020.
Magnificent is too small a word to describe how regal Leonardo was, and I hope my painting reflects some of his majesty.
I hope that some of you may be able to join me in Santa Fe to enjoy the Opening Reception or visit the exhibit through June 30. The Opening Reception will be held at the gallery (130 W Palace Ave # A, Santa Fe, NM) on Friday, June 6, 2025 from 5:00PM - 7:30PM.
For more information about the International Guild of Realism, please visit their website at:
https://www.realismguild.com/
For more information about Sugarman-Peterson Gallery, please visit their website at:
https://www.sugarmanpetersongallery.com/
For more information about Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, visit their website at:
https://www.southwestwildlife.org/
8/29/2024 6:08:38 PM
2024 has been a banner year for me with two articles about my artwork published in two of the art world’s most influential magazines. My first article featured my winning entry in the “Wildlife” category of International Artist Magazine’s artist challenge which appeared in the April/May edition.
Now, the August edition of American Art Collector magazine features a 4-page spread on my artwork. American Art Collector is recognized as one of the most prestigious and widely circulated monthly magazines specially written for collectors, galleries and painters of traditional fine art. Click here to view a PDF of my article.
Being featured in these nationally acclaimed magazines represents two of the most thrilling and rewarding aspects of my career…so far. I can’t wait for 2025!
8/16/2024 1:14:35 PM
I have had a website for over 17 years with only two major updates; with the last update launched in 2012. After 12 years of that old site, I recently decided it’s time to make a change, and boy this change is a big one!
Here are just a few of the major capabilities of the new site:
- Online Ordering – If you see one of my paintings that you like, just click “Add to Cart” and it will soon be on its way to your home or business. You can pay for it with your credit or debit card or through PayPal. It’s quick, easy and secure.
- Room – Can’t decide how one of my paintings might look on your wall, just click “Room” and you’ll see the painting displayed in several typical rooms, e.g., Living Room, Dining Room, Office, etc. [insert image of Leonardo in Living Room]
- Zoom – Are you one of those art lovers who likes to see a painting up close to see how the artist used brush strokes? Well, just click “Zoom” and you can get as close to my work as if you were viewing it in a gallery…probably closer!
- Newsletters – I now have the ability to send you periodic Newsletters about new paintings, exhibitions, awards, and other information about my art. Please subscribe to future Newsletters by entering your email address and let your friends and relatives know so they can also subscribe. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll never share your email address or name.
- Portfolio – I’ve arranged all my artwork in several categories so you can quickly discover the art you’re most interested in, its dimensions, and whether it’s Available or Sold.
- Enhanced Blog – As you know, I’ve been writing Blog posts for many years. Now, on the new site, when you comment on one of my posts, you can check a box to “remember” your name and other details, so that they’ll automatically be filled in for you the next time you comment. Also, you can check a box to receive an email alert you when someone comments on your post. It’s a fun way to see and keep up with what others are saying.
- Recent Works – There is a little viewing window on the right-hand side of the Home Page that shows you a rotating set of my last six paintings. Click on any one, and you’re taken to a more detailed view of that particular painting.
Please take a little time to explore my new site. Then, use the “Contact Me” page to send me a note about what you think of the new site.
5/5/2024 2:24:29 PM
My newest painting, A Lily's Perfume, is somewhat of a departure for me from my usual wildlife subjects. But, this still life nevertheless portrays my favorite subject...cats! Here's a little bit about how this painting evolved and how I went about creating it.
Inspiration
This is a hand-painted Chinese perfume bottle which the Chinese artist skillfully painted the scene on the inside of the bottle with beautiful soft colors. Each side has a different scene. I have three different bottles and eventually plan to paint each one. Each of the other bottles also has cats painted on the inside!
Technique
I painted the background a solid black to enhance the soft colors on the inside of the glass. I started at the top of the painting and worked my way down to the cats. The black and white kitten on the right side of the painting was in the corner of the triangle making a triple reflection of its head which I found fascinating. I used a glaze medium to make the painting as smooth as the glass it was painted on. To complete the composition, I added a Peruvian Lily blossom to the bottle to complement the Chinese artist’s interior artwork.
I hope you enjoyed viewing my work, and if so, feel free to leave a comment.
4/5/2024 3:46:40 PM
It’s official. The April/May 2024, #156 edition of International Artist Magazine just hit the news stands featuring my two-page article on winning their Grand Prize in the “Wildlife” category of their artist’s challenge. What an exciting moment for me!
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, International Artist Magazine – currently in its 25th year of print and online publication – is recognized worldwide as one of the most respected art publications available, with a readership of well over 150,000 readers. Being featured in their magazine is truly a once in a lifetime honor.
To read the article, click on the image above to open a PDF file.
Also, be sure to check back here in a few weeks for an upcoming four-page article featuring more of my artwork in American Art Collector – the most prestigious magazine in America focusing on traditional fine art with a readership dedicated to art collectors and galleries throughout the United States.
To learn more about International Artist Magazine, or If you’d like to subscribe, visit their website at: https://www.internationalartist.com/
2/20/2024 7:00:24 PM
Earlier this month I received one of the most cherished awards of my entire art career. I was notified that one of my paintings – “Leonardo” – had been selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the “Wildlife” category of International Artist Magazine’s artist’s challenge.
International Artist Magazine – currently in its 25th year of print and online publication – is recognized worldwide as one of the most respected art publications available, with a readership of well over 150,000. Every two months, it features recognized artists, describing their techniques/materials and exploring the inspirations behind their works. Also with each issue, all artists from anywhere in the world are invited to submit one of their paintings in a specific category to be judged for recognition in an upcoming edition of the magazine.
As part of my Grand Prize Winner award, “Leonardo” and I will be featured in a special, two-page spread in the April/May issue of the magazine. Additionally, a four-page editorial feature about my artwork will appear in an upcoming edition of American Art Collector – the most prestigious magazine in America focusing on traditional fine art with a readership dedicated to art collectors and galleries throughout the United States.
In addition to this award, “Leonardo” previously had been juried into the upcoming Women Artists of the West exhibition opening on March 1, 2024 and running through June 23 at the Phippen Gallery in Prescott, AZ. If you’re going to be near Prescott, I also invite you to attend the exhibit’s official Opening Reception on March 9, 2024 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
