''I paint because these beautiful moments tantalize. They last only a twinkling and then are gone... unless I paint them."
-Mary E. Polder
I'm living life on a small farm, tucked away in one of the mountain valleys of southwest Virginia where, along with my parents and seven siblings, I help run a woodworking shop and take care of the farm animals. I love this rural setting where I find so much inspiration for my art.
Painting the landscape is extremely near and dear to my heart, and I am exploring the practice of plein air painting as well. Floral art is also a great love of mine and is an opportunity to move in closer and savor the delicate details in the world of flora. The horses, cows, and ducks and chickens living on our farm and on the surrounding rural land bring yet another array of compelling subject matter which begs to be recorded in paint.
I'm so happy to be able to share a little bit of my passion for art with you here. I constantly feel driven to attempt to capture some fragment of the God-created beauty all around us that snatches our breath away and stops us in our tracks. My hope is that you will see something in my work which resonates with you; something that captures an experience, a place or an emotion which you can connect with. Something you can make a part of your own life and your own story.