In my new work in contemporary realism I try to capture the meaning of the Latin phrase, finitum capax infiniti, "the finite is capable of the infinite," which means that there is no access to the infinite except through the finite.  It is an apt description of how I feel about our connection to the material world.   

In some respects, I have become a chronicler of empty spaces. I don't believe that a place ever loses its human presence. People live, die, or move on, but their spirit remains. We leave something of ourselves behind in the spaces we inhabit, either in the physical changes we make, or because of the dings and dents of time. Therefore, in a sense, there are no real empty spaces.    

Presently, my quest is to try to capture this in two dimensional form, and the technique of glazing in oil paint seems to suit the subject matter and my temperament. This slow layering of color seems to correspond to the patina of living that inexorably descends upon a particular place. Glazing is a painting method that allows me time for careful thought and introspection.

Compositionally, the way material things have been left behind is of key importance to me. The way a piece of furniture sits in a room, the way an empty shelf protrudes from a wall, these things bear testimony to the people who have moved on. The mute objects are not really silent. 

Photo courtesy of Mark Brodie

I have taken a circuitous route to art. I grew up around creative uncles, aunts, and cousins in the New York City area. Traveling out west to Flagstaff, Arizona I majored in commercial art, but soon switched to the study of english and history. With the gentle persistence of my wife I finally found my way back to drawing and painting after a fifteen-year hiatus.    

At first, I was attracted to the color and directness of pastels, and I immediately took to the medium. After my initial exposure to pastels with Tony Ortega at the Art Students League of Denver, I took workshops with Bruce Gomez, Quang Ho, Molly Davis, and Mark Nelson. Now painting in oil, I concentrate on interior scenes and more symbolic landscapes.

Exhibitions

2010
20th Annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival - Denver
18th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver

2009
17th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver
Art & Artifacts Benefit for Project Education Sudan - Cherry Hills, CO
Lone Tree Art Exhibition - Lone Tree, CO
Lone Tree Photographic Show - Lone Tree, CO
The Mask Project Benefit for The Denver Hospice - Denver

2008
Salon du Musee, Gallery 1261 - Denver 
St. Charles Capital Art Show - Denver 
16th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver
Fifth Annual Colorado Drawing Exhibition, Gallery 821 - Denver 
"Shutterworks," Square Deal Framing & Gallery - Denver
Voices, Gallery 821 - Denver
Mind/Full Photography Show, Flash Gallery - Lakewood, CO

2007 
"Four Expressions," Square Deal Framing & Gallery - Denver 
Lone Tree Art Exhibition - Lone Tree, CO 
Gateway to the Rockies Art Exhibit (photography category) - Aurora, CO 
Photography Open, Spark Gallery - Denver 
"The Eternal Landscape" Invitational, Remmi Fine Art - Denver 
 Portrait of Self-Expression, Evergreen Arts Center - Evergreen, CO 
15th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver

2006 
Lone Tree Art Exhibition - Lone Tree, CO 
"Scapes," Art Students League of Denver 
Paint, Sculpt, Shoot Evergreen - Evergreen, CO 
14th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver 
 
2005 
13th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver 
 
2004 
Sand Dollar Gallery Holiday Show - Denver 
Castle Rock Art Fest - Castle Rock, CO 
"The Wide Open Spaces," Joan Hanley Gallery - La Veta, CO 
Crested Butte Festival of the Arts - Crested Butte, CO 
Littleton Fine Art Festival - Littleton, CO 
12th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver 
 
2003 
Crested Butte Festival of the Arts - Crested Butte, CO 
Castle Rock Art Fest - Castle Rock, CO 
Trinidad National Fine Art Exhibition - A.R. Mitchell Museum -Trinidad, CO 
Englewood Arts National Art Show - Museum of Outdoor Arts - Englewood, CO 
11th Annual Summer Art Market - Denver 

Awards

1st Place, Oil Painting, 2009 Lone Tree Art Exhibition - Lone Tree, CO
Mastery of Media Award, 2008 Summer Art Market - Denver
Best in Show, 2007 Lone Tree Art Exhibition - Lone Tree, CO 
2nd Place, Works on Canvas, 2006 Lone Tree Art Exhibition - Lone Tree, CO 
City of Castle Rock purchased painting for their collection, September, 2004 
1st Place Fine Art, 2003 Crested Butte Festival of the Arts - Crested Butte, CO 
Honorable Mention, 2003 Pastel Journal "Pastel 100" 
Purchase Award, 2003 Englewood Arts National Fine Art Exhibition - Englewood, CO 
Best Pastel Painting, 2002 Fall Art Festival - Glenwood Springs, CO 
Best Non-Figurative Drawing, 2002 Linear Simplicity Show, Zwolf Gallery - Denver 
Finalist, 2002 Delta Dental Holiday Card Competition - Denver 
Honorable Mention, 2001 NCAA National Art Exhibition 
People's Choice Award, 2000 Artists of Colorado V - Denver 
1st & 3rd Place Pastels, 2000 Artists of Colorado V - Denver 
Holbein Award, 2000 National Pastel Painting Exhibition - Albuquerque, NM 
Honorable Mention, TVAL 2000 Regional Art Show - Loveland, CO