I like to think that I chose the subjects of my portraits. However, in all reality, they choose me. They surreptitiously (and persistently) enter my thoughts, only to be silenced by my putting pen to paper, then brush to canvas.

With some portraits, my creativity (or an artistic daemon) takes over and I just go along for the ride.

I love that magical feeling I get when I'm looking at a finished portrait and ask myself, "Where did that come from?"

Portraits don't always look as one would expect. In fact, most times , I steer clear of realistic portraiture into a world where interpretations can be wonderfully fuzzy and free. This is when (and where) painting a friend or an idol or a lover can evolve into an intimate experience.

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” — John Lennon

I sip my tepid, black tea and listen to 1960’s ambient (elevator) music. I draw. I sketch. I doodle. I think about everything and anything and nothing (all at the same time). I let the pictures draw themselves.

Each of these magic little doodle-art sketches is 5x7 inches framed. They are created with pigment ink on bristol board.

This collection currently being shown (and sold) at Something Special Cafe, Granby, MA (2021-present).

“If you are not making someone else’s life better, then you are wasting your time.” — Will Smith

How am I making someone else's life better? What is my raison d'être? What is my dharma? I struggle with these questions and probably will until the end my time. For now, I happily embrace that my purpose is to add whimsical levity and warm-fuzzy diversions to this mixed-up and troubled world.

"What a tragedy it would be if we lived in a world where music was not taught to children." -- H. Norman Schwarzkopf, General, U.S. Army, retired

Music plays an important role in my sons' lives. I credit their grade school music teachers for inspiring and challenging them early in their education. Each year I donate a music-related painting to the local music parents association to assist their fund raising efforts.

I had a personal goal of having a solo art exhibit by the age of forty. This dream was fulfilled with the Picture Safari.

These ten animal paintings were exhibited at the Granby Charter Day Celebration in June 2004. Each is an acrylic painting on plywood measuring 2x2 feet.

At the fair, children (of all ages) were given an illustrated scavenger hunt check list to encourage them to roam the fairgrounds and find all ten paintings, which were strapped to trees.

For me, the real magic happened at the very end as I was preparing to uninstall the paintings. I saw a little girl with a crumpled up scavenger hunt sheet. She looked up at one of the paintings.  She started jumping up and down. She screamed, "I FOUND THE PARROT!"

I have friends who are woodworkers. I occasionally rummage through their scrap bins for pieces of wood I could rescue. I went through a period (approximately 2005-2010) where I painted acrylic on these found "canvases."

Each is about 12x12 inches. Most of the designs originated in my 3.5 by 4.75 inch sketch book while sitting in coffee shops around the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.

In April of 2011, I exhibited this collection at the offices of The Pioneer Valley Ballet in Easthampton, MA,

As children, we are taught that sharing is a good thing. Sadly, somewhere on our journey into adulthood, some of us forget all about it. The "Daisy Animals" collection has a simple message: SHARE. It's up to each of us to determine what that means.

This collection has been shown in the following locations...

The Cup & Top Cafe, Florence, MA (2006-2007)

The Granby Free Public Library, Granby, MA (2010)

I’m not a political activist, nor am I a political artist. In fact, politics rarely enters into my art work. However, back in 2003, I experienced unease, discomfort and insecurity in the weeks and days leading up to the impending war in Iraq. This uneasiness inspired several sketches. As the war escalated, these drawings ultimately turned into a mural-sized painting.

For me, this is not specifically a political piece. It is my emotional (gut) reaction to an intense situation for which I did not like the direction of travel. It portrays fear, confusion, paranoia, helplessness, frustration and angst all wrapped into the warm embrace of peace and hope.

Since this painting was created in 2005, it has been installed at a number of venues around the Pioneer Valley. It is currently installed in my home, waiting for its next public showing.

In the late 1990's and early 2000's, the Bic 4-Color Ballpoint Pen was my main source of creativity. I took it beyond doodling into exhibiting.

These drawings are part of collection with the title "Pen". Most of the designs were taken from sketches created while sitting in coffee shops around the Poineer Valley of Massachusetts. Each 5x7 inch drawing is on Bristol Board and embellished with graphite, colored pencil or dry pastels. 

This collection has been shown in various forms at the following locations...

Gallery 267 in Greenfield, MA (2004)

Amalie Louise Cafe and Bakery in Florence, MA (2005)

Mill River Gallery in Williamsburg, MA (2005)

Manhan Café in Easthampton, MA (2006)

Mud Spun Art Center in Belchertown, MA (2009)

What happens when you use whimsical colors and fanciful lines to paint melancholy pictures? As it turns out, I've been doing this for years.

For this series of paintings, my color palette is based on the Bic 4-Color Ballpoint Pen (Fashion Colors) with a pinch of yellow.

Each painting (8x10 inch on canvas) originated as a drawing in my little 3.5 by 4.75 inch sketch book.