For past the couple of weeks, I’ve been quietly working on something that’s been tugging at me for a long time.
Not just a collection of paintings, but a collection of stories.
I’ve wanted to create a body of work centered on the American West for years. Not because it’s trendy or nostalgic, but because these places have shaped who I am. They’re where I learned to slow down, pay attention to light, and see beauty in places many people drive right past.
They’re where I find my inspiration.
They’re where I can step into a forgotten memory.
When I walk through a national park, stand in an old mining town, or follow a trail that’s been there for generations, I don’t just see a landscape. I see history. I wonder about the people who came before us—their struggles, their victories, the risks they took, and the lives they built.
Lately, as I’ve watched our national parks and public lands face increasing challenges, I’ve felt an even stronger pull to tell these stories. These places mean more to me than beautiful scenery. They’ve been my classroom, my refuge, and the source of countless paintings. They remind me why I became an artist in the first place.
As an impressionist, I paint light, atmosphere, and color. But those are only part of the story.
What truly draws me to the West is its spirit.
Its grit.
Its resilience.
Its tenacity.
And yes, its willingness to question authority and refuse to let someone else decide who you should become.
Maybe that’s why I’ve always felt at home there.
I’ve never been interested in painting what I’m expected to paint. I’ve never been comfortable fitting neatly into someone else’s idea of what an artist should be. The West has always reminded me that there’s another way—to forge your own path, to embrace the unknown, and to create work that’s honest.
Over the coming year, I’ll be sharing a new body of work consisting of 25 to 30 paintings. Each piece will tell its own story. Some will explore the lawlessness that helped define the frontier. Others will honor the grit and determination of the people who called it home. Some will be inspired by forgotten places that still whisper their history if you’re willing to listen.
This series isn’t about glorifying the past.
It’s about preserving stories that deserve to be remembered.
It’s about celebrating landscapes that continue to inspire artists, adventurers, and dreamers.
Most of all, it’s about sharing the places that have shaped my life and my work.
So consider this an invitation.
Over the next several months, I’ll take you with me into the American West—one painting, one place, and one story at a time.
I hope you’ll join me.
