About the Artist

He has always had a great interest in art, but he had never taken any training until college.   Bethany College in Mankato, Minnesota is where this first exposure occurred.  He then continued to focus on art at the University of Minnesota where he graduated with a B.F.A.

Minnesota River School of Fine Art was his next step forward, which encouraged him to follow a traditional approach and painting from life.  Combining his passion for art with his love of travel, he takes his first workshop with Jim Wilcox in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  At that point, landscape painting from life became his focus by continuing to study with several wonderful plein air painters.  The list includes, Scott Christensen, Marc Hansen, Jay Moore, Ralph Oberg, Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb, Dan Young and recently had the privilege to gain extensive insight from Kathryn Stats. 

Painting on location "plein air" and capturing the scene all at once brings about an energy and a freshness that artists hope to grasp onto.  Currently a resurgence of this approach seems to be challenging countless artists around the country.  Painting on location and from life really hones your power of observation and helps to create your own style of interpreting nature.  Nature keeps the artist honest, and the skills learned are invaluable tools to bring back into the studio.   


AWARDS & EXHIBITIONS

Wyoming Plein Air Juried Exhibition
-  First Place - "Quick Draw" 
-  Juried by John Encinias

Bloomington Art Center / Members Juried Exhibition

-  Award of Merit

Plein Air on the Zumbro

-  2nd Place

 8th Annual Estes Park Plein Air
-  Estes Park Mayor's Choice Gold Award

Wyoming Plein Air Juried Exhibition
-  3rd Place

Oil Painters of America / Central Regional Juried Exhibition
-  Topeka, Kansas - September 28th through November 10th

Estes Park Plein Air
 
River Boat Art Fest, Aitkin, Minnesota
-  First Place - "Quick Draw"

Oil Painters of America / Annual National Juried Exhibition
-  Missoula, Montana

Estes Park Plein Air

Bloomington Art Center / Members Juried Exhibition
-  Award of Merit

Estes Park Plein Air
-  Runner-up "Quick Draw"

Extremely Minnesota Juried Exhibition

Arts in Harmony / Annual National Show
-  Best Oil or Acrylic

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
-  Traveling Show

Bloomington Art Center / Members Juried Exhibition
-  Honorable Mention

Arts in Harmony / Annual National Show

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
-  Traveling Show

3rd Congressional District High School Art Competition
-  Judge

Arts for the Parks / First Miniature Competition
-  Top 75

North Light Magazine
-  Featured, "Member of the Issue"  - November

Arts for the Parks / Annual National Show
-  "Second 100"