Most of my landscape paintings, especially in the past few years are created on location - or in artistic parlance en "Plein-air". However, chilly weather has often enough prevented me from completing an entire work onsite. Finishing a painting from my photo references allows for some interesting changes in composition (and sometimes the addition of wildlife or figures), but I always strive to establish the color palette on location, as cameras tend to eliminate subtle depths of color and flatten intricate gradations of shadow and light.

Flowers never disappoint as models (except when I forget regular watering), and have provided me many hours of enjoyable painting. I always find them a relaxing way to "unwind" between more involved compositions. There is no pressure to create a particular message when painting florals - just the joy of capturing a beautiful moment of life to treasure long beyond its eventual passing.