I was one five of children and we had a fairly large house that we grew up in. But the house was so filled with objects from deceased relatives that there was a sense of numerous individuals that had lived in the house before us so the house itself was crowded. That had a lot to do with my seeking solace in the outdoors. We were fortunate enough to have a lot of land and wild areas around the house so I think that guided me towards nature as a source of creativity.

I think of each painting I create as being an experience in and of itself. I try in my work to maintain some veins of consistent theme but also I do recognize each painting has its own true self. They all are landscape but they’re much more than that to me. They are about struggle and perseverance and life and death. And so they're much more than just inanimate objects that hang on the wall. They're very much a part of my life.