This is my 4th and final submission to the National Jr. Duck Stamp Competition. This is a very intense competition that calls for scientific accuracy to the water fowl, and the environment. Details are very important. I typically paint landscapes either from images, memory or plein air. Adding these Long Tailed ducks was a challenge and achieving a well balanced composition was rewarding.

Through my experience of competing, playing music, painting, and living, I learned that there is no predisposed formula when deciding which colors to apply. Every piece of art is composed of layering complexities. The colors I apply in my art, I apply to my life.

I created this piece to illustrate the life and dwindling ice that animals face throughout the years. I wanted to make it playful while subsequently drawing attention of the viewer further out to the ice that is drifting of into the sea which is supposed to leave a lasting impression that global warming is destroying environments that our friendly furry pals need to survive.

This piece of acrylic art is supposed to represent the shy fragile nature of peeking into something private. The duck in it’s nature it the center piece to the cacophony of noise that is the foliage around it. You’ve snuck a peak into something that nobody is suppose to see, an animal in it’s natural habitat moving into view as you make eye contact. It is a special moment meant to be shared in silence, a split second before the fright of it’s vulnerability sends it into flight.

Camping on the Alaskan shores and listening to alien abduction stories initially sparked my inspiration for this painting. I was not initially going to frame it around an alien abduction theme, but I felt like the painting flowed better with this narrative. Of course, all the fish look shocked to find strange “aliens” approaching them. I used perspective to transition the viewpoint from the salmon to the fisherman to guide the viewers to the conclusion that this painting is from the salmon’s point of view. Routine fishing trip or alien abduction? Everyone sees life through a different perspective.

I was inspired to paint this painting when I was up skiing one afternoon with a friend. I wanted to highlight the anticipation of getting off the chairlift through my use of dramatic lighting and motion throughout the piece. The use of the light from the sun first attracts the attention of the eye of the viewer, then depth and atmospheric perspective are used to further move the eye along the piece until the viewer’s eyes would land at the place where the skiers would get off the chairlift. Overall, this painting represents the harmony of people in nature. Because of skiing and the changing climate with variable snow years, this causes more awareness in keeping the environment pristine.

“Old Knight” pulls inspiration from some of my other pieces, and adds varying age to my portraits. While working on Old Knight, my focus was upon the realism of warm shadow, and the natural folds added to older skin. Furthermore, when I start portraits I usually start with the eyes. That being said, while working on Old Knight, I started with the nose, allowing for a different take while building the light on the bridge of the nose and further up the face.

While working on the beard and hair, I focused on the flow and directional aspects that the light naturally added to the already intense features.

While working on this study piece, my focus was upon the shadow cast by the turban, and the warm reflection of the skin. Once dry, I used a glazing technique over the blue, making a deeper aqua color. Once the piece was fully dry, I applied a small area of gold leaf near the ear, creating an earring shape. The blue and gold casting a strong, and elegant, pull of focus.

To me, this piece represents the power and harmony of patience and elegance. The outcome of a long story, finally falling off the shoulders of the young. The simple gesture of seeming calm, almost like a deep breath – and an exhale. Feeling the weight leave your shoulders, and the comfort of peace and warmth fill that void. This is the relatable feeling of Blue.