Artistic Influences

I have been very fortunate to have two loving parents that have always nurtured and encouraged me in my artistic pursuits. I suspect it is because they themselves are artists and understand what is involved with such a commitment and that they felt very happy and enthusiastic in their support of what I have done. While their expertise is in the field of music rather than the graphic arts, they certainly have an understanding of what is involved in this way of life and have always been with me in my studies and endeavors.

One of the nice things about living in the 20th (and now the 21st) century is having exposure to all the great artists throughout history: museums make it possible to see the real stuff. That has not always been the case. And, of course, there are beautifully replicated versions of all the great masters, available to anyone with a valid library card or internet connection.

I have some favorites when it comes to the big-time artists, and I think the list is telling. da Vinci comes to mind. Michelangelo as well. Caravaggio has certainly had an effect on how I learned to see things; the French Impressionists influenced me in a very powerful way, especially Monet, Manet, Degas, Van Gogh (of course), Gauguin, Pissaro (who I think is underrated) and last but not least, Anquetin.

With respect to more recent times, I have to acknowledge a few American heroes: Sargent, Cassatt, DeKooning, Jackson Pollack, and Chuck Close. There are many others I could list, some of whom I've had the pleasure of being acquainted with. Mr. Frank Stack and Brooke Cameron and Jerry Berneche are among that group, as well as my other colleagues in the art community here in Columbia. I am both fortunate and grateful to be living in this time, to be actively involved in making paintings available to those who are interested in such things, and I am appreciative of the history and community that have facilitated that opportunity.

Being a painter very much influenced by Photo Realism, I think it is important to mention photographers who have also influenced my work. A few that come to mind are Joel Meyerowitz, Ralph Gibson, Helmet Newton (Especially his "Big Nudes"), Christian Vogt ("83 Images by 52 Women") and Stephen Shore. The camera has a very credible and powerful authority; it has dominated our perception of reality for the last one hundred years. It is my hope that I have used that authority in my work, from the photographs I have taken, by adding things to those images which the camera cannot see.