Bio
I grew up in Moorhead Minnesota, I was one of those kids that was always drawing from the time I could hold a pencil. I had the good fortune of having James Rourke of the Rourke Gallery in Moorhead as a mentor. I studied art at Carleton College and worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for 40 years and has had his illustration work featured in many publications.
Dean Warnholtz, my painting and printmaking professor at Carleton got me interested in abstract art and it’s an interest that I’ve continued to pursue. Along with Dean and local artists Jerry Rudquist and Charles Beck, I’ve been influenced by Lee Bontecou, Franz Kline, Hellen Frankenthaller, Robert Motherwell, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francis Bacon and many others.
I am currently semi-retired and enjoying the time and freedom to explore my creative interests.
Artist’s Statement
My current body of work evolved from my fascination with the interaction of materials and an interest in experimentation and non traditional techniques. The abstract expressionists, particularly Kline, Motherwell, de Kooning and Frankenthaler have influenced my work as well as local artists Jerry Rudquist and Dean Warnholtz.
My approach is intentionally unintentional. I usually have no preconceived notion of the outcome. The work is an attempt at accessing my unconscious mind, especially in the early stages. I try not to think too much about the finished product. In the later stages the work becomes a sort of dialogue, I make a mark and then let the painting tell me what the next move should be.
Although I try not to have any literal references in these paintings, the viewer brings their own interpretation. I’m often surprised to learn the things that people see in them. I hope that the viewer first approaches the painting as a whole, then spends time wandering through the details created by the texture, then perhaps spends time meditating on the piece.
Selected Exhibitions and Awards
2026
Plymouth Community Center Solo Exhibition August 1-September 11
Arts North International, Hopkins Center for the Arts. First place Acrylic Division
Artist Spotlight, Hopkins Center for the Arts. Amber and Cream Coffee Shop
Robbin Gallery Whiz Bang Member Show
Robbin Gallery March Madness