My work revolves around the American West; from the connection between the working man and domesticated animal, to our more elusive wild neighbors in their natural habitat. I am moved by the small moments that often get lost in the grandeur of the West, and look for these subtle gestures and quiet relationships when creating. Often my reference comes from local rodeos, during road trips, or on the side of the road on the way home from the store, as I strongly believe that, in order to paint something, you must first experience it.

I create using watercolor, working with the transparency of the medium to build up a life like representation of my subjects though multiple layers. Though I loose much of the unpredictability of the paint within these layers, I allow myself to bring back the playfulness of watercolor in the background and around the edges of the painting with vibrant splashes of color. This final addition to my paintings is sheer joy to add to the paper, but it is also my way of reminding myself that my work is about the little things.