I regularly paint outdoors (plein-air) with pastels and watercolors, lugging easel and materials over hill and dale, through streets and alleys or wade across rivers to painting sites. I work with vivid colors, creative use of composition and always try to express the atmosphere that exists somewhere between my nose and the horizon line. It's really the "light" that seduces everyone who views landscapes and I am completely devoted to finding new ways to express how light affects colors and moods in my work.

I love to paint outside anywhere, but especially in the San Juan Islands, the canyons and rivers of the Pacific Northwest and more recently (2004 and 2005) in Italy and Greece. There's just something about standing in front of ancient alcoves in stone walls or the middle of a piazza in Italy, or a busy Greek market place that gets me excited about painting. I've overcome my "fear of heights", so to speak about painting in public places and enjoy the connections made with viewers, critics and people who want to know more about the very personal act of painting something live.

I have been involved in invitational "paint-outs" in Oregon and Washington and worked alongside some great artists, as well as studied with the same. That list includes: Susan Ogilvie, Cathe Gill, Teresa Saia, Susan Bennerstrom and Richard McKinley. Each of these artists has given me much to be grateful for and all are noteworthy as teachers and all are very accomplished artists.

My single most important accomplishment is probably the next painting I'm planning to work on, but in reality was being nominated and accepted into the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters, the oldest and one of the most prestigious fine arts fraternities in the United States, in September, 2005. The Puget Sound Group includes some great names like Kenneth Callahan, Guy Anderson, Edwin Burnley, Wm. Cummings, Clark Elster, John Ebner, Austin Dwyer, to name but a few, both past and present. More importantly, this group contributes several thousand dollars every year to art schools and students in the Pacific Northwest, in the form of scholarships through the annual October fine arts auction. Last years auction grossed over $75,000 in 3 hours, through the sale of each members' donated painting(s).

Where do I work?:
When I'm not painting outdoors, I work in my studio on Lopez Island, with an easterly waterfront view of Flower, Frost and Blakely Islands. It's a joy to live and work in a marine environment like the San Juan Islands. We are blessed with incredible weather and light conditions that change in a most enticing manner, year-round. I still love to travel back to the mountains of Oregon, Idaho & Montana, as well as other countries to do work.

Beyond the studio, I do many studies, sketches and drawings, some of which have developed into full blown paintings at some later date. Drawing continues to be the number one tool of the trade that I can't seem to live without. Many of my finished pieces result from good strong "value" studies - lights, darks, shapes and form and objects- set down on paper from some previous excursion into the field.

Where am I headed?:
Thirty years ago I was painting purely in an abstract expressionist style and had absolutely no interest in representational art. That has changed rather dramatically in the past few years, but I still try to employ the techniques, color theories and emotional content that I was able to achieve as an abstract painter. It's important for me to be in touch with new ideas and subjects as they come along and I plan to always take it to my maximum potential.

Where do I show?:
My original work can be seen at these galleries:

Colin Goode Gallery, Lopez Island, San Juan Gallery, Friday Harbor, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA., Pacific Marine Gallery, Bellingham, WA., and Yoshida's Gallery in the Pearl District in Portland, Oregon. Please visit their website's for current work or my web-site www.windsweptstudioes.com for my latest newsletters, interactive blogs from paint-outs and gallery/exhibit/show information.

I do commission work and also welcome dealer inquiries for limited edition prints. My studio/gallery/classroom space will be open beginning February 28, 2006 by appointment (360) 468-2557 and seasonally from May-September on most weekends (watch for signs).

Visit my website for the most current news and information: www.windsweptstudios.com

Gallery Location and Information:

Scott-Milo Gallery
Phone: 360.293.6938 - Email: smilo@anacortes.net
Website: www.scottmilo.com

Gallery San Juan
Phone: 360.378.1376 - Email: info@gallerysanjuan.com
Website: www.gallerysanjuan.com

Pacific Marine Gallery
Phone: 360.738.8535 - Email: gallery@pacificmarine.com
Website: www.pacificmarine.com

Yoshida's Gallery - Portland Oregon:
Phone: 1-800-667-7655. Address: 206 NW 10th Ave., Portland, Oregon Website: Yoshida's Gallery

Classes:
Pastel classes are offered at the artists' newly remodeled gallery and workshop space at his home on Lopez Island. Classes are limited to 3 students per session. Contact the artist for detailed class information. See Class and Workshop page.