Growing up on a farm near McBain, Michigan, I learned various ways to view the many objects in my world. I could see them clearly, from the subtle colors of the stone in my hand to the patterns of distant fields, lakes, and streams. I often tried to imagine what it would look like from that plane above me.

I had no art training until I went to Kendall School of Design, where my focus was on advertising graphics. My second year at Kendall was marked by losing my grandfather, my father, my first wife, and her stepmother. This contributed to a very dark period which was reflected in my paintings.

After graduating from Kendall, I became disappointed with my commercial art job in Kalamazoo.  I decided to enroll at Western Michigan University for a degree in art education. After teaching art at Kalamazoo Christian High for nine years, I felt called to go to Nigeria to teach art at Vandeikya Government Teachers College.

When I returned, I started a freelance business doing architectural illustrations and paintings. My travels by plane influenced my desire to experiment with aerial landscapes using fresh and unusual colors to express my emotional and spiritual thoughts and feelings.

All the experiences that shaped my life also go into every painting I do. Because I spent twenty years in commercial illustration, I am conscious of how design and color can be used to help tell my story. 

When using acrylics, I usually paint the canvas or watercolor paper with a base color to set the mood. From there, I structure my paintings with layers of color to meet my desired purpose. When I’m using transparent watercolors, I use a different approach.  I start by using a wet-on-wet technique, except for those areas I want to leave white. Then I paint in more detail using appropriate colors to finish the composition.

From Above

Education

  • Kendall School of Art & Design, Grand Rapids, Mich.

  • Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Published     

  • The Artist’s Magazine, Nov 1995, “Spark up a Landscape with Gouache” with S. Elliot

  • The International Artist Magazine, Oct/Nov 2001 issue

  • Encyclopedia of Living Artists, 10th and 14th Anniversary issues

  • International Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Contemporary Art1999/2000

  • International Artist Magazine, “Challenge 19 Landscapes”, Feb/Mar 2004.   

  • Finalist. Included in the book How Did You Paint That by Elladrent Pty, Ltd in the state of South Wales, Australia, 2004

  • New Art International, accepted by BAP (Book Art Press), to be included in editions 2004-05 and 2006-07.

  • Painting included in the books Splash 8, Splash 10, Splash 12, and Splash 15.

  • Encore Magazine, Sept, 2004, article: “Art Makes the Man” by Penny Briscoe.

  • The Artist’s Magazine, January, 2005, article: “Flying High” by Sy Ellens.

  • Best of Artists & Artisans of Michigan, 2006 by Kennedy Promotions, LLC.

  • Best of America in Watermedia, 2010 by Kennedy Promotions, LLC.

  • Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing, 2007, by North Light Books.

  • Watercolor Magazine, Winter 2008, “New Perspective” by Lynne Moss Perricelli

  • Acrylic Artist Magazine, Fall 2011, Cover and article, "Natural Wonders" by A. Havener

  • Art Journey America Landscapes 89 Painters' Perspectives by Kathryn Kipp, North Light Books, 2012

  • Acrylic Works, edited by Nancy Reyner, 2014, North Light Book

One-man Shows

  • Hillcrest School, Jos, Nigeria, W. Africa

  • Carnegie Art Center, Three Rivers, MI (Nov/91)

  • Lake Worth Art League, Lake Worth, FL   (Dec/91)

  • Kingscott Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI (Nov/93) Curated by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Again in (Jan/01)

  • Inner Images Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI (Sept-Oct/94)

  • West Michigan Cancer Center, Kalamazoo, MI (Feb-May/98) Curated by the

  • Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo

  • Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA  (Aug-Oct/98)

  • Arts Council of Kalamazoo Gallery at the EPIC Center, Kalamazoo, MI (Feb/03)

  • Air Zoo of Kalamazoo, MI  (July-Sept/06)

  • Arts Council of Grand Rapids Gallery (Oct-Nov/09

  • Box Factory in St. Joseph, MI (Jan-Feb/2011)

  • Central Michigan University Park Library, Mt Pleasant, MI (Aug 21-Oct 12/12)

  • Olivet College, Kresge Foundation Art Gallery, Olivet, MI (Nov 8-Dec 11/12)

Special Invitation Group Shows 

  • Newington-Cropsey Foundation, Hastings-on-the-Hudson, NY

  • Two-person show at Spring Arbor University, Ganton Gallery. (Sept-Oct/09)

  • Two-person show at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.  (April 26-June 29/12)                      

Art in Embassies Program

  • Two paintings for an exhibition in the U. S. ambassadorial residence in Yerevan, Armenia, at the request of Ambassador Ordway.

  • Two paintings for an exhibition in the U.S. ambassadorial residences in Pretoria, South Africa, at the request of Ambassador Cameron Hume.  

                                        

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts

  • Two paintings for an exhibition in Michigan governor’s residence, July 2006-July 2007

Judge of Shows 

  • Flowerfest Fine Arts competition in Kalamazoo, MI

  • Berrien Artist Guild, 10th Annual Art Competition, Box Factory, St Joseph, MI. June 15 - July 29/12.

Signature Member

  • American Watercolor Society

  • National Society of Artists

  • National Watercolor Society

  • Western Colorado Watercolor Society - Master

  • Philadelphia Watercolor Society

  • Louisiana Watercolor Society - Master

  • Pennsylvania Watercolor Society

  • National Oil and Acrylic Painters Societ y

  • Missouri Watercolor Society

  • Texas Watercolor Society - PS

  • Northwest Watercolor Society 

                               

Fellow Member

  • The American Artist Professional League

Member  

  • National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic

  • Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo

  • South Haven Center for the Arts

  • Kalamazoo Institute of Art

  • Muskegon Museum of Art

Awards

  • High Winds Medal Award, American Watercolor Society, Salmagundi Club, NY

  • Crest Medal Award, Philadelphia Watercolor Society.

  • John J. Newman Medal, National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic

  • National Watercolor Society Award, Texas Watercolor Society

  • Best of the Show Award, National Society of Artists in Texas.

  • Best of the Show Award, Lake Worth Art League in Florida.

  • Honorable Mention Award, The Artist's Magazine.

  • 5th Place Award, 2000 and 2006, North Light Book Club

  • First Place and Second Place, Northwest Watercolor Society

  • 3rd Place & Finalist, The Artist’s Magazine

  • 1st Place for Acrylic Painting in the Online Show, The Artist's Magazine

  • Grant received from Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and Pharmacia & Upjohn Foundation Community Arts Grant Program,

  • Over 170 awards in regional, national, and international competitions.

Collections

  • Private collections in many U.S. states, Canada, Nigeria, Netherlands, Germany, England, Switzerland, Italy, India, Poland, China, Hungary, Hong Kong, Japan, and Spain,

  • Kalamazoo Institute of Art

  • Western Michigan University

  • Pfizer Corporation

  • Mall City Containers, Kalamazoo, Mich.

  • Green Bay Packaging Inc. Kalamazoo, Mich.

  • DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.

  • Warner, Norcross, & Judd in Muskegon, Mich. 

  • Olivet College in Olivet, Mich.

  • Northwest Watercolor Society in Seattle, Wash.

Murals: 

  • A 2200 square-foot “Fantasy of Flight” mural in the Children’s Room and a 62,500 square-foot floor mural in the new Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Mich, July 2004.

Represented by

  • Synchronicity Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI