I am mostly a self-taught artist, working primarily "en plein air" when the weather permits. I also work from sketches and photos, but only of places where I've actually been. Based in Brooklyn, NY, I usually look for subjects in my backyard. My goal in oil painting is to capture the spirit of a scene at a particular instance, noticing that even the mundane can give pleasure, whether in the gritty, industrial zone by the Gowanus Canal (a Superfund site) or in a historic brownstone residential neighborhood. I particularly am attracted to scenes where the man-made intersects and interacts with Nature. Escapes from the city offer greater stillness and clearer air, but “architectural” views always interest me. The sun’s effects enthrall me as its rays are absorbed and reflected by buildings, bridges, the sky, trees, and water, creating glimmers of beauty. I am attracted to views that might not have obvious aesthetic appeal, but where the commonplace seems to have a special patina.