My paintings focus on the landscape, particularly on the Oregon landscape. Mostly, I paint plain air and strive to communicate the joy I find in the landforms and the beauty of the Northwest. There is much to observe when you are painting in plain air. The challenge is to select the important details from the wealth of information in each scene. I want the lights and shadows, shapes, patterns and brush strokes to describe the specific scene. For me, the painting experience should be immediate- from the squeezing of paint onto the palette to the brushing and blending of colors. When my work is going well, I feel total involvement and separation from the rest of the world. I hope that viewers will be able to stand in my shoes and see what I saw and felt as I painted.