As a realist painter, I’ve always been drawn to the detail and color of these eggs, which predate Christianity in Ukraine as a calibration of the rebirth of nature in the Springtime. They are painted in Ukrainian and other Eastern Orthodox Christian cultures in recognition of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of everlasting life. In this piece my intent is to share the power, color and grandeur of the event, while trying to maintain balance and perspective.
Artist Statement
My artwork is done primarily with watercolor and in the study of traditional realism. I also enjoy working with colored pencils and soft pastels. The subjects I study are done using a combination of traditional and contemporary tenebrism and chiaroscuro artistic styles in still life and sometimes in human portraiture. I paint strong contrasts between light and dark values, and my subjects are balanced and precise. It’s important for me to create pieces from the world around us that the observer can obtain dramatic perspectives from, and be inspired by the experience.
Bio
I am an American artist born in Monterey, California and I grew up in a military family. I've also had my own 21-year career serving the nation in the US Army. I have lived and traveled all over the United States and the world. The experience with other peoples and cultures has given me a rich and positive perspective as an artist. I'm primarily a self-taught artist with some formal advanced art training. I have a BS degree from Excelsior College, Albany NY and I have studied under some of the world's finest artists.
I am a signature member of the "Colored Pencil Society of America", and the "Baltimore Watercolor Society". I am also a member of the Southern Watercolor Society and the Virginia Watercolor Society. I have had art pieces juried into prestigious national and international exhibitions every year and have been published regularly in Ann Kullberg's "Color" Magazine and her popular annual "CP Treasures Vol. III, IV and VII," as well as "Colored Pencil Magazine." I've also been published in the "2018 Richeson 75 Still Life and Floral International Exhibition" as a finalist.
I live a quiet life in Prince George, Virginia as a Magistrate for the Commonwealth of Virginia with my wife Lorie, my son Chris, my granddaughter Josie and our four little furry companions Raylan, Jackson, Goldie, and Chase.