I taught black and white photography and loved chasing light and making prints in the darkroom. Manipulating light in the darkroom is much like painting—you add and subtract what you need and what you wish. But I developed an allergy to the chemicals and as things became more digital the magic faded. I was soon introduced to plein air painting by my good friend and mentor Thomas Buechner and the hard work of painting took over.

 

I was fortunate to teach at the Lawrenceville School for 40 years and given the opportunity in 1992 to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts on the Joukowsky Fellowship while teaching part time. The New York Academy provided excellent training in the importance of sound fundamentals. Lawrenceville ran on a trimester basis so teaching beginners how to draw, paint, design in ten short weeks became a challenge and a source of great pride. Not everyone can be a great “artist” but we can all learn to see and that takes concentrated continual effort.

 

For me it is simple. I love the land, I love to eat the good bounty it provides, and I am drawn to light. Spending time out doors painting, or in the studio with north light, is a source of great enjoyment—so too it is when someone else likes the results.