I am a retired executive residing in Canaan, New York with my wife Elsa. Our home sits high on a ridge just a few hundred yards from the Massachusetts border overlooking the Berkshires to the south and east and the Lebanon Valley to the north. If I want to paint a beautiful scene of the Berkshires all I have to do is walk out the door and set up my easel.  Given Berkshire winter weather however, I also have my own studio attached to the house in case there are several feet of snow on the porch when I want to paint. From here I have ranged the Berkshires taking photos which I use as the basis for composing landscape paintings On occasion, if I’m lucky enough to catch the right person at the right time in a photo I’ll paint what I call character portraits of subjects whose expressions tell a story of personal character and experience that are shared by most of us yet may not often be expressed in words. I also paint and draw portraits on commission.

I began drawing and painting as a second career 12 years ago focusing on landscapes and portraiture. My chosen medium is oil although I also enjoy drawing in charcoal as well. I’ve studied at the National Academy and the Art Students League of New York and participated in art workshops in plein air and portrait painting.

Before I’m moved to paint something there has to be some aspect that captures my eye; that strikes me in a very strong way. Often it is the way the light illuminates a scene. Light in the Berkshires is particularly interesting due to the many steep hills that block the sun but then let part of it shine through to create striking patterns of light and shade not often seen elsewhere. In some cases it’s a singular looking tree that seems to add character to an otherwise common landscape. In other cases it’s an unusual architectural aspect that departs from what one might expect to see in farm or other buildings in the Berkshires”.

The result is paintings that are focused on a limited, contained scene and rarely on a broad overlook although there are exceptions when the wonderful Berkshire Hills are turned to cold blues and warm lavenders or autumn arrives and color is everywhere.

I believe you’ll see these aspects in my work and hope you enjoy “my” particular way of viewing the Berkshires.