Education

Foxcroft School. Middleburg VA

Hutchison School. Memphis TN

University of Mississippi Oxford MS

Memberships past and present:

Portrait Society of Ameria

Tennessee Ambassador for Portrait Society of America

American Academy of Equine Art

Portrait Society of Atlanta

Chestnut Plein Air Painters of TN

Creative Arts Guild of Dallas

Southwest Pastel Society

American Impressionist Society

Cecelia Beaux Society

Junior League of Memphis Chairman: 2008 Art Show and Sale

Equine Art Society of Tennessee President and Founder

As an artist, I am constantly seeking ways to improve and refine my skills. I believe that studying the history of art and learning from the generations of fine artists who have come before us is essential to creating meaningful and impactful work. Through building upon this knowledge base, I strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in art and inspire others to do the same.

The connectivity of our generations through art goes as far back as Michelangelo to artists currently working today.

My inspiration never ceases when studying the works of some of my favorite artists past and present. These include Sir Alfred Munnings, John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Franklin Voss, and Frank Benson.

Art is a powerful tool for healing and self-expression, and I believe that it has the ability to bring beauty, joy, and inner peace to those who experience it.

In a chaotic and often disconnected world art has the power to reach through the noise and connect people of all generations in meaningful ways. Whether it's a child's simple drawing hanging on a refrigerator or a masterpiece hanging in Paris at the Louvre. Art has the ability to touch us all.

As an artist, it is my mission to create work that speaks to the beauty and complexity of the world around us but to delight in the simplicity as well.

Our God is the master painter and shows us how complex the science of nature can be but also the beauty in the structure, symmetry and simplicity evident in the world around us. From the dark clouds a thunderstorm brings to the simple but also complex design of a sand dollar or sea shell, our creator has given us endless joys to discover.

I want my art to inspire others to see the world through a different lens.

Passionate about the role that art plays in our lives today I also am excited for the generations of young artists coming up today.

Even just one piece of original art or painting of an ancestor in a child’s home can cause him to pause, ponder and imagine what that long lost relative living in a distant time might have been like.

What were the hopes, goals, dreams and struggles of the person in that painting? Portraits are not faded old photographic snapshots on crumpled paper of yesteryear stuck in a drawer. They are paintings hung with prominence on the walls of our homes, giving a glimpse of the past to the children of today.

This one piece of art can inspire a lifetime of art for someone else.

Portraits not only tell the stories of our own families but also preserve the history of the people who shaped our nation.

Museums such as The National Portrait Gallery in Washington are dedicated to the genre of portraits.

With over two hundred portrait commissions hanging in homes throughout the south, I remain committed to the recording of loved ones, beloved places of our lives.

Whether it is a child or an adult, a beloved pet or a majestic horse, I strive to create a timeless and beautiful portrait that will be cherished forever.

It is my hope that my work will inspire others who will come after me.

Lifestyle

When I am not painting , I am usually spending time with my family, friends, and pets. I make my home in Franklin, TN. The history and beauty of the area knows no bounds. The equestrian lifestyle is one I enjoy and seek out more and more. My paintings are gravitating to the equestrian genre. I have always loved painting people and pets and especially enjoy painting children and their equine companions.

I have three grown children: David, George, and Liza.

David and his wife Kathleen live in Mountain Brook, AL, with their daughter Caroline,18 months , and a baby on the way in October 2023. They also have a golden retriever named Oscar.

George works in Venture Capital in the health tech space in Nashville.

Liza has taken the Dallas social scene by storm and living in the trendy neighborhood of Uptown.

. My constant companion and best friend is my beagle mix rescue pup, Abbie.

I also spend a lot of time with my horse, Crackers, who is known as Carfield in the horse show world.

We have traveled together to WEC (World Equestrian Center) in both Ocala and Wilmington as well as shows at Brownland Farm.

Prior to Crackers I owned a wonderful horse named Maclay. Maclay and I competed in shows in Germantown, Brownland, Gulport, Folsom La, Pensacola and Atlanta.. He was an exquisitely beautiful Hanoverian who was later a stellar part of the Ole Miss Equestrian team. He was sadly put down a year ago. Rest In Peace Maclay, you were very loved.

My daughters fist pony was Trumpet. His show name was Pecan’s Creek Trumpeteer. They did well competing in Germantown, Brownland and Gulfport. He was the childhood pony of her dreams.

My family spends time in the summer in the northern Michigan woods on Walloon Lake. The family seen many changes and lived through a lot of history in that cottage, built in the late 1800’s.

There was no telephone, or even a road when it was first built. The only way to get there was by train from Memphis and then a steamer to your cottage.

Ernest Hemingway spent his summers there growing up and has written about his Michigan experiences in his many books. The Nick Adams stories were based on his time there at the lake. He loved the outdoors and fishing in the pristine emerald cool spring waters once controlled by the obijeway Indians.

Sailing, tubing, jet skiing, tennis, and golf are favorite activities in addition to enjoying the splendid beauty of the wonders northern Michigan. Nearby towns of beautiful Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Mackinaw Island are incredible places to explore. Harbor Springs is a very old resort town and has a deep harbor so many large boats are able to anchor there. Its a bustling place in the summer. Sightings of the Northern lights are always a thrill.

No vacation wold be complete without horses so we can always drive a short distance to Travese City, the Cherry Capitol of the world to take in the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and the Traverse City Horse Show. Its usually a good prep for accomplished riders before they go to the more competitive shows.

I find my art is increasing reflective of these activities. Please join me in the journey of appreciating the beauties that God has set before us!