REGENHARDT GALLERY AT SHRODE ART CENTER

I am obsessed with painting! I love making realistic art and the challenges associated with manipulating color and value to make something look more breathtaking than any photograph ever could. I am inspired by past and present artists to include the late 1800s John Singer Sargent and William Bouguereau, mid1900s illustrators N. C. Wyeth and Norman Rockwell, and countless contemporary realists such as Alex Venezia and Renato Muccillo. My subject matter ranges from landscapes, to portraits, to still life, to science fiction, to abstract paintings and my work has been displayed at galleries throughout St. Louis.

My process starts by sketching out concept ideas and developing basic composition. Then I gather reference photos, develop rough and detailed sketches, and the paint several small studies to fine-tune the values and color palette. For the final painting I start with an underpainting using burnt umber or burnt sienna to establish the drawing and initial values. Finally, I apply color paint, working the whole painting at one time by moving fluidly around very quickly with large brush strokes and then fine-tuning detail with smaller brushes towards the end.

I use acrylic paint on canvas and occasionally wood panels. Acrylic paint has the thick consistency of oil paint, the fluidity of watercolor, and it dries quickly. I make my own frames for each painting using wood lumber, trim, acrylic paint, wood stain, and a clear matte acrylic sealant.

I am currently a freelance artist living in O’Fallon, Illinois.

BIOGRAPHY

My interest in art began in the 4th grade. I remember my teacher had us draw our own hand a few times on paper. From my perspective mine turned out really good, and from there I was hooked. I really got serious about art in high school by taking art classes at the local community college and practicing
all…the…time.

I attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City for three years studying illustration with the intent to work for Disney as a background artist on animated movies or a matte painter for Industrial Light and Magic (this was before computers were a thing). After three years I decided to make a big change, transferred schools, earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and joined the Air Force in 2001. I spent the next 20 years as an Air Force pilot. I retired from the military in 2021 and currently work for Boeing in St. Louis. For the past 5 years I have had time to focus on art part time as a freelance artist.