Having only pursued the rudiments of art instruction as a child and through high school and college, I am essentially a self-taught artist. Basic art instruction requirements in the grammar schools of Pittsfield, MA and Pittsfield High School gave way to the beginnings of a minor in Art studied at what was then North Adams State College, North Adams, MA, now the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. However, I did not pursue formal art school training and, after college, began a period of exploring my own inner muse through music and the recording of my compositions.
Upon reaching middle-age, I changed direction and began to express myself more often through the visual arts, beginning to paint with watercolors, but I did not find the pervasive translucency of the medium appealing and moved onto pastels. I initially liked the tactile aspect and depth of color that may be achieved with pastels, but grew tired of working on paper and dealing with the issues that arise using that surface. Oils turned out to be the thing for me.
In a short period of time, I have covered a good deal of ground in regards to subject matter and themes, finding my way as most artists do. Initially, as a landscaper by trade, I would emphasize landscape elements in my artwork. Later, I became drawn more to painting buildings and objects. At present, I prefer to work almost exclusively doing oversized still lifes, though I keep my options open. Living in relatively close proximity to the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, I consider myself lucky and have been influenced by the work shown there, particularly the impressionists. I also seek guidance and support from my contemporaries and those around me.
Having painted seriously only since 2004, I have quickly gained a certain recognition and status with my representational work, having won awards in both pastel and oils. I am a Board member of the Housatonic Valley Art League, Sheffield, MA, it’s Publicity Chair, and oversee a monthly exhibition of solo shows of artists from the League as well. I am an Elected Member of the Kent Art Association, Kent, CT, an honor requiring an artist to be juried into a number of the Association’s exclusive juried shows. I am also a member of the Columbia County Council on the Arts, Hudson, NY, and have been juried into it’s prestigious annual juried show twice to date.
Currently, my work has moved in a freer, more expressive direction. Using larger surfaces of canvas and masonite and bolder, more spontaneous brushwork, I seek to facilitate drawing the viewer into my unique perception, compositional taste, and the mannerisms of my work.
Resume
Education
1984-1988
North Adams State College, North Adams, MA.
Business Administration, minors in Art and Music.
1981-1984
Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA.
A. A. Business Administration. Graduated June, 1984 with Honors.
Exhibitions
2007
JWS Display. Solo show. JWS Art Supplies, Great Barrington, MA. (March 4-March 30).
Columbia County Council on the Arts 2007 Juried Art Show. Juried group show. Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY. (March 3-April 7).
Housatonic Valley Art League Winter Show. Group show. Noble Horizons, Salisbury, CT. (January 19-February 24).
2006
Place. Juried group show. Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA. (November 3-December 9).
Housatonic Valley Art League Harvest Festival Show. Group show. Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge, MA. (October 7-8).
Kent Art Association Elected Artists Show. Juried group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (September 14-October 15).
Housatonic Valley League Members’ Show. Group show. 3rd prize. Dewey Memorial Hall, Sheffield, MA. (August 3-27).
The Pittsfield Art Show. Juried group show. North Street, Pittsfield, MA. (July 29-30).
Housatonic Valley Art League Annual Juried Exhibition. Juried group show. Dewey Memorial Hall, Sheffield, MA. (July 13-30).
The Post Card Size Show. Group show. Le Petit Musee, Wild Sage, Pittsfield, MA. (July 1-30).
Celebrating Music in the Visual Arts. Juried group show. Berkshire Frame Works, Pittsfield, MA. (June 1-30).
Kent Art Association Spring Show. Miniature section. Group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (May 25-July 9).
Kent Art Association Member’s Show. Group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (March 30-May 14).
Forty Shades of Green. Group show. Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA. (March 1-April 1).
Sheffield Art League Winter Show. Group show. Noble Horizons, Salisbury, CT. (January 27-February 26).
2005
EPOCH Event. Solo show. EPOCH Assisted Living at Melbourne, Pittsfield, MA. (October 14-November 10).
Artists In The Garden. Group show. Vanderbilt Mansion. Hyde Park, NY. (October 9).
Sheffield Art League Harvest Festival Show. Group show. Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge, MA. (October 1-2).
Kent Art Association Fall Show. Juried group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (September 16-October 16).
Riders Mills/CCCA Fence Show. Group show. Riders Mills Schoolhouse, Riders Mills, NY. (September 10).
Africa Initiative “School Safe Zones” Benefit Art Show and Auction. Group show. Saint Agnes School, Dalton, MA. (August 13).
Sheffield Art League August Member Exhibition. Group show. Dewey Memorial Hall, Sheffield, MA. (August 11-September 5).
Sheffield Art League and BankNorth Artist of the Month. Solo show. BankNorth, Great Barrington, MA. (August 1-31).
Kent Art Association President’s Show. Juried group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (July 29-September 5).
Becket Arts Center Member’s Show. Group show. Becket Arts Center Gallery, Becket, MA. (July 28-August 15).
The Tuscan Art Show at Berkshire Frame Works. Group show. Berkshire Frame Works, Pittsfield, MA. (July 9-30).
ArtShow Fine Art Street Galleries. Juried group show. Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Berkshire Artist Award. North Street, Pittsfield, MA. (July 9-10).
Sheffield Art League Annual Juried Exhibition. Juried group show. Dewey Memorial Hall, Sheffield, MA. (July 7-August 7).
Art for Animals Animalkind Benefit. Group show. The Red Dot, Hudson, NY. (May 10-June 7).
Kent Art Association Spring Show. Juried group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (May 6-June 5).
Kent Art Association Member’s Show. Group Show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (March 24-April 24).
Berkshire Backyards Painting Contest. Group show. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA. (March 18- April 10).
Columbia County Council on the Arts 2005 Juried Art Show. Juried group show. Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY. (March 5-April 2).
Friends of the East Granby Library Juried Art Show. Juried group show. East Granby Library, East Granby, CT. (January 31-March 10).
Sheffield Art League Winter Show. Group show. Noble Horizons, Salisbury, CT. (January 28-February 27).
2004
Berkshire Frame Works Grand Opening and subsequent shows. Group shows. Berkshire Frame Works, Pittsfield, MA. (December 11-June 28, 2005).
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation En Plein Air Art Auction. Group show. Harrison Gallery and Orchards Hotel, Williamstown, MA. (November 5-6).
Sheffield Art League Harvest Festival Show. Group show. Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge, MA. (October 2-3).
Kent Art Association Fall Show. Miniature section. Group show. The Gallery at Kent, Kent, CT. (September 18-October 17).
Holcomb Farm Learning Centers Art Show. Group show. J. Vallee Brunelle Fine Art & Framing, Granby, CT. (September 9-October 2).
Sheffield Art League Members’ Show. Group show. 3rd prize. Dewey Memorial Hall, Sheffield, MA. (August 6-September 6).
Sheffield Art League Summer Show, Housatonic River Summer 2004. Juried group show. Dewey Memorial Hall, Sheffield, MA. (July 3-31).
2003
Art Show/Sale. Group show. First Congregational Church of Dalton, MA. (August 22-23).
Judging
HVAL 2006 High School Senior Scholarship Competition/Art Show. Juried group show. Welles Gallery, Lenox Library, Lenox, MA. (May 7-May 25).
Commissions
Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Barbara Sammons. (2004).
Memberships
Housatonic Valley Art League, Inc. (formerly Sheffield Art League), Sheffield, MA
Housatonic Valley Art League, Inc. Board Member, Sheffield, MA
Housatonic Valley Art League, Inc. Publicity Chair, Sheffield, MA
Housatonic Valley Art League, Inc. Northern Chapter Co-Chair, Pittsfield, MA
Housatonic Valley Art League, Inc. PLACE Exhibit Co-Chair, Pittsfield, MA
Housatonic Valley Art League, Inc. TD Banknorth Exhibition Hanging Committee Co-Chair, Great Barrington, MA
Kent Art Association, Kent, CT
Kent Art Association Elected Artist, Kent, CT
Columbia County Council on the Arts, Hudson, NY
