Western Americana in Watercolor

Having grown up in small towns in rural areas, I’ve developed an appreciation and a sense of nostalgia for antiquated structures and their enduring craftsmanship. Everywhere are the relics of functional, yet aesthetic designs from our bygones, providing records of the culture our forebears carved from the surrounding landscape. I try to illustrate this historical testament to the need for art and beauty in humans’ sometimes mundane, everyday lives. Now that I call Montana home, I find inspiration in Western cultural themes and iconic objects, as well as the region’s native flora and fauna. 

Our world educates us through sensory experiences, so rendering surface textures is often an integral part of my work. I love the clean, simple nature of watercolor, as it allows me the control I desire for crisply rendered, textural details found in my subjects, whether it be a ghost town saloon, wrinkled leather cowboy boots, or the foliage of a Rocky Mountain wildflower.

In my work, I illustrate not only the unique physical attributes of my subject matter, but also what story it has to tell. Just as illustrations in a book are experienced intimately, I want encounters with my paintings to inspire a closer look, a moment of private study and appreciation for thoughtfully crafted areas of character and definition.