Artist Statement
I grew up close to nature and feel deeply connected to the northern landscape.  I have been exploring three series of work, two of which investigate and document my adventures into the wilderness, one of which portrays a specific portrait of a place and all of which are inspired by my desire to feel a closeness to nature and family.
My most recent series of paintings focus in on my adventures canoeing and camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota and Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.  The paintings record specific landscapes and people I encounter during my adventures through this beautiful wilderness.  I am interested in how these parks provide an experience of wilderness and adventure through canoeing and portaging from lake to lake. The parks offer a genuine escape from everyday life and an intimate experience where people are entertained by telling stories, swimming, exploring, fishing,and stargazing.  
In addition to my annual canoe trips I am interested in documenting my family during deer hunting season.  I also work on small paintings up in my deer stand.  I am interested in how the act of deer hunting allows for a totally unique time for reflection as well as an intense meditation with nature because of the absolute stillness and quietness of waiting for hours, totally silently, up in a tree.  I wish to shine a positive light on deer hunting by reflecting on family tradition, food awareness/responsibility and a deep reflection of oneself and our relationship to the natural world.
My third series portrays a cabin in the woods of northern Wisconsin that my grandfather built in the 1960s. The cabin has become somewhat of a shrine to my family history and is a place where memories and experiences collide. The rustic and outdated original décor remains and displayed are hundreds of old pictures, cabin diaries and handmade objects.  I see this series of work as an intimate portrait of a unique place that has largely informed my values and my sense of self.