I was born in Vancouver B.C. to an Irish Father and Dutch Mother.

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As a child, I was more directly influenced by my Mother who was an artist than my father who was a Pentecostal Preacher. I suppose this is obvious in my choice of Art over the Ministry. Although I did get my love of Carpentry and building things from my Father which resulted in working in Architectural offices as a Draftsman and later as a Carpenter and Furniture maker. 

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The Work.

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My subject matter is generally focused on the figure although I am open to whatever is needed for the particular expression of a work to feel right.

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I am more interested in capturing an essence of a thought or feeling by whatever means I need to, rather than the repetition of one style or subject matter in my work.

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Usually the starting point of new works begins with some sort of research to stimulate a direction. This can take the form of a topic I am interested in searching online or something random that piques my interest from a movie, book or conversation. Nothing has a plan or purpose other than when I find some deeper meaning or visual obsession to investigate further. Often this involves a deep dive into multiple branches of the origins and history of a particular topic. As my wife likes to say, I become the book. For me, this is a necessary process.

 

And then, when I start to paint I like to put everything behind me that Ive researched and thought about and trust what is going to bubble to the surface in the form of inspiration. This usually involves many hours of just looking at the canvas, waiting. And sometimes just throwing something at the wall to see what sticks.

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