Commission portraits are a large part of my work and I am honored to capture the spirit of that special person, place or pet for the client.

My primary mediums are pastels and graphite pencils. Pastels have vibrant colors that can be used on a variety of supports depending on the subject or the look I am trying to achieve. In the initial phase of my pastel pictures I use hard pastels, gradually transitioning to softer pastels in subsequent layers, working from dark to light. My favorite papers for pencil drawings are hot press watercolor paper and a printmaking paper. Both of these papers help me achieve the realistic and intricate details that I love to depict in my pictures. My pencil drawings are also done in layers with graphite pencils ranging from 9H (hard) to 9B (soft).

Having grown up on a dairy farm in South Central Kentucky I had an assortment of available references from farm animals, to rolling hills, woods and ponds with fish and frogs. As an adult my life led me out of Kentucky and for many years I resided in Florida and Missouri before recently returning to my home state. I have studied with several award winning artists who have graciously shared their knowledge with me and I continue to refine my style and be open to new challenges in the art world.

Awards Include: