I have always been drawn to the natural beauty that surrounds me. I am fascinated by the ways in which the same scene can look so different depending on the time of day, season, or weather. I enjoy painting " en plein air," and even when I don't begin my paintings outdoors, I often spend many hours in just one spot studying the light and taking in the smells, the warmth or chill of the air, the nuances of the shadows, and taking reference photos to use back in the studio. I feel this sensory input translates into the mood of each painting.