Was 2022 a good year for you?

Yes, very good!

What were some of the highlights in your art career?

My best news of 2022 was acceptance of “The Influencer”  into the American Watercolor Society 155th Annual Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. 

“The Return” received a minor prize at the Philadelphia Watercolor Society Works on Paper show. 

“The Veteran’s Journey” received the The Stafford Family Award for Outstanding Portrait at the 41st annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, NY. 

What were some of the pitfalls?

The major pitfall of the year was realizing at the closing reception of the American Watercolor Society that only 2 out of 100 watercolors, created by some of the best painters in that medium, were sold! 

Did your art sell?

A non-figurative painting “Tangle” was accepted into the Houston Watercolor Society 45th annual show. I succeeded in selling that after the show to a local buyer for my best sale of the year, $1000.

Were you included in any shows?

“Oak Tattoo” was accepted into the Lore Degenstein Gallery 13th Annual Figurative Drawing and Painting Exhibition. There were 500 entries in this national level show. It’s one of the rare shows that doesn’t shy from nude figures so I was especially pleased to to be accepted from hundreds of other applicants. 

“Smile Awhile”, a plein air painting of a tow truck being used to advertise an ice cream stand, was accepted into the San Diego 2022 Plein Air Exhibition.

“The Three Artists” was accepted into the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society Exhibition. The Society awarded me signature membership for having been accepted into three of their shows.

Were you published in any art magazines or periodicals?

Another fine honor was that ”Facing the Storm", was featured in April 2022 Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, in “The Timeless Appeal of Horses” portfolio. 

How has  social media affected your daily practice?

I’m not great at marketing but my posts on Instagram do bring some attention from many people I would not reach otherwise.

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

In 2023, I will continue aiming for the major watercolor society shows. I aspire to signature membership at NWS or AWS. 

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I have always been an artist. Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, I graduated from Penn State in 1972 with a BFA degree. I so enjoyed the combination of town culture and woodsy countryside, that I never left Centre County, Pa. 

I’ve worked with many media and subjects. In recent years I settled on watercolor as my primary tool. I enjoy the way it has a mind of its own and I have to collaborate with it to earn a good painting. I paint landscapes, both plein air and from photo. I also work a lot with the figure, from life or photo. 

I continue to work as a freelance illustrator, specializing in illustrated maps for books and other publications. I recently provided over 30 illustrations for a popular book on genetic manipulation, "A Crack in Creation", by Jennifer Doudna and Sam Sternberg. In 2007, I created new maps for a reissue of the Princess Bride, by William Goldman.