I paint in oils on wood panels and draw with conte crayon and pastel on drafting film. My recent work concentrates on the facades of strip malls and big box stores as well as the spaces around them. These types of settings are common in the suburban landscape and highlight the culture of consumerism and convenience in which we live. I find these subjects in my immediate surroundings visually appealing due to the quality of light, evidence of time and human impact, implication of metaphor and narrative, and arrangement and quality of the formal design elements. Photographic references are the source images as they allow me capture a wide range of subjects, views, and the specificity of the place. Drawing is an important part of my process. I'll start by making small sketches and will also create larger value drawings. The process of drawing allows me to discover the proportions, values, and placement of shapes, while also experimenting with marks and textures. Through the process of both drawing and painting the works are created with hopes of capturing the mood and overall visual qualities of the scene. For the last 4 summers I have been able to return to working plein air through teaching a landscape drawing and painting class. I have reconnected with the process of working from life with is enjoyable, engaging, and challenging. This plein air work has influence my studio paintings and added new concepts and vitality to my painting process.