My Mission in Art

Since retiring from my veterinary practice in 2010, I find myself wanting to draw the area I was born in, which is the coast of North Carolina.  I like to draw things that have a profound past, and is now left to decay, forgotten with the paint flecking off, or covered with barnacles.  All of my ancestors having lived, worked, and played in coastal N.C. and I'm interested in using my art to revive the things they saw and loved during their era. So, in effect, this may really be a mission statement.  I not only want to show you the things I recognize beauty in, I want to do my best to make you feel and recognize the importance of their past the way I do.  
Charcoal, at least to me, is the media of emotion..and I hope you can see that in my work.  The soft blending and strong detail that invites you to walk right into a drawing of places I remember from my childhood, and now want you to experience.  I recently taught myself to add pastel and colored pencil work into my charcoal drawings and you can see my evolution in this regard as you look over the pictures on this site.  Still, every drawing has its own individual feature.  Some people like lots of color, some people like straight charcoal, and some people like mostly charcoal with a touch of color for contrast.  Which are you?  I love seeing and hearing comments because art is such an individual and interesting experience. Whereas my total charcoal drawings whisper and and invite you in, some of my drawings with more pastels may speak a little louder, but hopefully, never be too brazen.  All have their own strong appeal to your emotions for different reasons.  

So there's my mission statement. I want you to see and experience the beauty of the North Carolina coast the way that I do.. But really, my biggest hope is that you'll spend a little time on my site trying to feel the things I’m trying to pass on to you about each picture.  If you can do that, what more could I ask for?  Please let me know your feelings so I can know my mission has been accomplished.  Never hesitate to tell me things you see and like, or just want to tell me.  I’m interested in hearing from you.  Thank you for stopping by and please come again. I hope you'll come back often.