ARTIST STATEMENT

I create watercolors of buildings, bridges and machinery with a messy, rusty, chaotic feel that comes with age and lack of use. The patterns, textures and colors of large, old, decaying equipment has a feel I don’t quite understand, but am attracted to, and have a desire to record before it’s gone.

 start my process by defining every line and detail in pencil. Perspective angles and vanishing points are refined with a ruler to line everything up cleanly, helping me feel my life is in control. Next, chaos ensues when, what feels to me like arbitrary layers of watercolor are thrown on the paper. While feeling lost, I add and delete many layers of color back and forth until the painting eventually comes back into focus. I hate the chaos, love the order, and feel gratified when I end up with a combination of both.

I paint with transparent watercolor in many layers on 300lb Arches paper and often splatter masking fluid or rip the surface to create a chaotic, weathered look.

EDUCATION

Associate of Art in Graphic Arts - American Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois
Bachelor of Science in Architecture - Iowa State University, Ames Iowa

 

EXHIBITIONS

Watercolor West - group show - Georgetown Steam Engine - 2021
National Watercolor Society -
group show - 2021 - Abandoned Mobile Oil Rug in Utah
Missouri Watercolor Society - group show - 2021 - Calumet River Vertical Lift Bridge
Watercolor USA - group show - 2021 - Springfield, MO
The Canadian society of Painters in Watercolour
- group show - 2019 - Calgary, Canada
Unicorn Cafe
 - solo show - January 2016-2018 - Evanston, IL
Transparent Watercolor Society - group show - May 6-August 6 2017 - Kenosha, WI
American Watercolor Society - group show - April 3-April 22 2017 - New York, NY
National Watercolor Society - group show - October-December 2016 - San Pedro, CA
Transparent Watercolor Society - group show - April 30-August 7, 2016 - Kenosha, WI
5 Elements show - group of 5 artists - may 15-August 12, 2016 - Evanston, IL
American Watercolor Society - group show - April 15-May 15, 2016 - New York, NY
Danon Galley - 2 artist show - April 21-May 12, 2016 - Evanston, IL
Transparent Watercolor Society - Group Show - May 7-Aug 7, 2015 - Kenosha, WI
American Watercolor Society - group show - April 6-25, 2015 - New York, NY
Transparent Watercolor Society - Group Show - Kenosha, WI - 2014
Transparent Watercolor Society - Group Show - Kenosha, WI
Ogden Arts Fest - Group Show - Ogden, UT - 2013
Transparent Watercolor Society - Group Show - Kenosha, WI - 2013
Great Lakes Showcase - Group Show - Houghton, MI - 2013
Frame Warehouse - Solo Show - Evanston, IL - 2012
Transparent Watercolor Society - Group Show – Kenosha, WI - 2012

  

AWARDS

Watercolor West - Founders Award - Georgetown Steam Engine - 2021
National Watercolor Society -
ISEA and Combined Merchandise Award - Abandoned Mobile Oil Rug in Utah- 2021
Missouri Watercolor Society - Special Award - Calumet River Vertical Lift Bridge - 2021
The Canadian society of Painters in Watercolour
- Sennelier Award - 2019
Transparent Watercolor Society
- Lakes Region Watercolor Guild Award - 2019
National Watercolor Society -
Masters Award II - 2018
Watercolor West -
Holbein combined Merchandise Award - 2018
Transparent watercolor Society -
Charles "Bud" Koontz Memorial Award - 2018
American Watercolor Society - 
Joan Ashley Rothermel Memorial Award- 2017
Art in the Village, Hubbard Woods, Illinois - Best of Show Award - 2016
Transparent Watercolor Society - Lakes Region Watercolor Guild Award - 2016
Great Lakes Showcase - Best of Show - 2015
Transparent Watercolor Society - Lakes Region Watercolor Guild Award - 2014
Illinois Watercolor Society National Show - Award of Excellence I - 2014
Great Lakes Showcase - 2nd Place - 2013
North Shore Art League - People‘s Choice Award - 2013
Transparent Watercolor Society - Founders Award - 2012