I grew up with tools. As a young boy, my dad let me use any of the hand or power tools in his shop that didn’t scare me. Introverted and curious, I figured out how to use most of them, built woodworking projects, and went on to work with the rest of the family installing fencing, building decks and homes, and always making improvements at the cabin.

I spent my college years learning architecture (Notre Dame and the Southern Institute of Architecture). Within this context, I also learned Art History, structural engineering and a start into the fine arts. An artist at Sci-Arc introduced me to the fine art of Japanese Sumi-e painting. I have practiced this in the thirty years following.

My first years in Architecture involved elementary schools, medical projects, master-planning for colleges and churches. A few years break from architecture ensued as a furniture designer and craftsman.

Returning to Architecture as a residential designer, I worked on both new homes and renovation of older homes throughout the Midwest and on the coast. I have always tried to express the hand of the designer and the crafts-people who build these things to show through in the final product. It is the highest compliment I can give to the people who have been my teachers and who have helped me with my creations.

My current focus is back to painting, in the traditional Japanese method but leaving the traditional style and imagery behind, instead deriving new forms that respond to what I see in the natural world.

My portfolio, therefore, has three areas of focus, including Architecture, Photography as a celebration of Nature, and Painting in the Sumi-e tradition.

Please take a moment to cycle through some of the work shown here, and seek peace in the beauty of both the natural world as well as the creations of one human who is part of that larger place which is Nature.