They say an artist dips his brush into his soul...
…may I say how fortunate I am to sculpt with my heart!
My interest in fine art began when I noticed an advertisement for a national art contest. This contest was for the National Park Academy Arts for the Parks Competition. A rendering of an eagle soaring across Mount Rushmore made the exhibit. More than 3,000 entries from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico entered the competition to make the top 100 for the exhibit. My painting was the first painting sold and was displayed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.. The painting ended up at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. In 1993 an oil painting entitled "Autumn Cardinals and Creepers" featuring the scarlet songbird in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area won the Grand Prize and the Gold Medallion Award of Merit for the Arts for the Parks Competition. This painting is now part of the permanent collection of the National Park Foundation.
Accomplishments include the 1992 winning image for the New York Duck Stamp. The 1993 Ducks Unlimited Guess Artist Print "Long Day Pause." A painting "Goose Island" was selected for Birds in Art, which is a prestigious international wildlife art exhibit at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. This work was singled out from entries submitted by artist worldwide.
Twice I’ve been selected to participate in the Wildlife Art Sale at Christie's of London, England. These events maintains the highest standards of today’s best wildlife art from around the world.
I have illustrated various books and magazines such as The Nature Conservancy, Smithsonian Institute and Field and Stream.
Growing up in the mountains of Pennsylvania, becoming an Eagle Scout I’ve learned to appreciate nature. I served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War and later worked in the Pentagon with the Defense Intelligence Agency. After the Navy, I returned home and married my now wife Carol. The two of us moved to Pittsburgh where I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh majoring in graphic design. There I won the Merrill-Milai Scholarship and worked as a courtroom sketch artist and free-lanced for various local television stations as a news artist. After graduating, I worked as an illustrator. In 1981 I opened my own commercial art studio. My interest in art stemmed from his interest in history, particularly with the American West. I began to travel to militia musters, pioneer villages and Indian pow wows to find authentic models for my paintings.
I have sculpted numerous fountains of life size bronze figures and animals. "...my painting background has helped in the design of my sculptures... and I find as I paint I’m always thinking of what the subject looks like three dimensionally as well.." My painting and sculpturing styles are marked with an acute sense of detail and intensity.
AWARDS and EXHIBITS
Work has been exhibited in:
Museums:
- Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.
- Royal Natural History Museum, London England
- Butler Institute of American Art Museum, Salem, OH
- Butler Institute of American Art Museum, Youngstown, OH
- Greenville Canal Museum, Greenville, PA
- Arms Museum, Youngstown, OH
- Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
- Wildlife of the American West Museum Jackson Hole, WY
- National Wildlife Art Museum, Jackson, WY
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA
- Charles and Emma Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
- Anniston Museum of Natural History, Anniston, AL
- National First Ladiesí Library, Canton, OH
Parks:
- Grand Teton National Park, WY
- Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
- National Park Service, Atlanta, GA
Galleries:
- West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, W.Bend, WI
- Ella Carothers Dunneoan Gallery, Bolivar, MO
- Eagle Eye Photo & Gallery, Avon, CO
- The Carson Group Gallery, Denver, CO
- Blue Moon Gallery, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Estate of the Arts Gallery, Mansfield, OH
- Olde Stone Gallery, Poland, OH
- Essence of Nature Gallery, Canfield, OH
- The Grizzly Gallery, West Yellowstone, MT
- Main Trail Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Museums:
- Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.
- Royal Natural History Museum, London England
- Butler Institute of American Art Museum, Salem, OH
- Butler Institute of American Art Museum, Youngstown, OH
- Greenville Canal Museum, Greenville, PA
- Arms Museum, Youngstown, OH
- Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
- Wildlife of the American West Museum Jackson Hole, WY
- National Wildlife Art Museum, Jackson, WY
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA
- Charles and Emma Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
- Anniston Museum of Natural History, Anniston, AL
- National First Ladiesí Library, Canton, OH
Parks:
- Grand Teton National Park, WY
- Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
- National Park Service, Atlanta, GA
Galleries:
- West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, W.Bend, WI
- Ella Carothers Dunneoan Gallery, Bolivar, MO
- Eagle Eye Photo & Gallery, Avon, CO
- The Carson Group Gallery, Denver, CO
- Blue Moon Gallery, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Estate of the Arts Gallery, Mansfield, OH
- Olde Stone Gallery, Poland, OH
- Essence of Nature Gallery, Canfield, OH
- The Grizzly Gallery, West Yellowstone, MT
- Main Trail Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Awards:
- Arts For The Parks 1993 Grand Prize Winner
- Ducks Unlimited Guess Artist 1993 Print
- Birds in Art
- 1992 New York Duck Stamp
- Nature Art Festival 1993 Print
One Man Shows:
- Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, OH -1994
- Butler Museum of American Art, Salem,OH
- Gallery One, Mentor and Akron, OH
- Boardman Frame House Gallery, Youngstown, OH
- Village Gallery, New Wilmington, PA
- Big Creek Park, Chardon, OH
- Milieu Interiors, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Vancura Gallery, Middlefield, OH
- Windber Heritage Center, Windber, PA
- Ashtrabula Art Center, Ashtrabula, OH
- The Gallery at Wittenhouers. Poland, OH
Sculpture Installations:
- Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, OH
- Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, OH
- Mahoning Co. Public Library, Poland, OH
- National First Ladies Library, Canton, OH
- Veterans Park, Austintown, OH
- Peterson Park, Poland, OH
- Victory Christian Center, Coitsville, OH
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Youngstown, OH
- Arts For The Parks 1993 Grand Prize Winner
- Ducks Unlimited Guess Artist 1993 Print
- Birds in Art
- 1992 New York Duck Stamp
- Nature Art Festival 1993 Print
One Man Shows:
- Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, OH -1994
- Butler Museum of American Art, Salem,OH
- Gallery One, Mentor and Akron, OH
- Boardman Frame House Gallery, Youngstown, OH
- Village Gallery, New Wilmington, PA
- Big Creek Park, Chardon, OH
- Milieu Interiors, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Vancura Gallery, Middlefield, OH
- Windber Heritage Center, Windber, PA
- Ashtrabula Art Center, Ashtrabula, OH
- The Gallery at Wittenhouers. Poland, OH
Sculpture Installations:
- Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, OH
- Fellows Riverside Gardens, Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, OH
- Mahoning Co. Public Library, Poland, OH
- National First Ladies Library, Canton, OH
- Veterans Park, Austintown, OH
- Peterson Park, Poland, OH
- Victory Christian Center, Coitsville, OH
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Youngstown, OH
SHOWS and EXPOSITIONS
Shows/Expositions:
- Pentagon Building, Washington D.C.
- Arts For The Parks -1988, 91, 92, 94, 95 National Tour
- Arts For The Parks - Top 200 1991, 92, 93
- Arts For The Parks -í96 10th Aniv. Miniature Show
- 1996 & 1997 CHRISTIEíS of London,
England Wildlife Sale and Auction
- National Aviary at Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD
- Northern Wildlife Art Expo, Lansing, MI
- Bluebird Festival Wildlife Show, Jackson, MI
- Forces of Nature Exhibit, Grand Rapids, MI
- Discover Wild Waterfowl Exhibit,Concord,NH
- Wild Wings Fall Arts Festival, Lake City, MN
- Ducks Unlimited Wildlife Show, Ridgway, PA
- Pymatuning Waterfowl Expo, Linesville, PA
- Nature Art Festival, Jamestown, NY
- Blue Marsh Wildlife Show, Reading, PA -Featured Artist
- Baltimore Wildlife/Nautical Expo, Baltimore
- National Ducks Unlimited Wildlife Art and Sale, Kansas City, KS
- Northeastern Wildlife Expo, Niagara Falls, NY
- World Wildlife Exposition, Gatlinburg, TN
- Michigan Wildlife Art Fest.-West, Grand Rapids, MI
- Michigan Wildlife Art Festival -East, Southfield, MI
- Butler Institute of American Art Museum, 2011 Mid-Year Show
- Pentagon Building, Washington D.C.
- Arts For The Parks -1988, 91, 92, 94, 95 National Tour
- Arts For The Parks - Top 200 1991, 92, 93
- Arts For The Parks -í96 10th Aniv. Miniature Show
- 1996 & 1997 CHRISTIEíS of London,
England Wildlife Sale and Auction
- National Aviary at Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD
- Northern Wildlife Art Expo, Lansing, MI
- Bluebird Festival Wildlife Show, Jackson, MI
- Forces of Nature Exhibit, Grand Rapids, MI
- Discover Wild Waterfowl Exhibit,Concord,NH
- Wild Wings Fall Arts Festival, Lake City, MN
- Ducks Unlimited Wildlife Show, Ridgway, PA
- Pymatuning Waterfowl Expo, Linesville, PA
- Nature Art Festival, Jamestown, NY
- Blue Marsh Wildlife Show, Reading, PA -Featured Artist
- Baltimore Wildlife/Nautical Expo, Baltimore
- National Ducks Unlimited Wildlife Art and Sale, Kansas City, KS
- Northeastern Wildlife Expo, Niagara Falls, NY
- World Wildlife Exposition, Gatlinburg, TN
- Michigan Wildlife Art Fest.-West, Grand Rapids, MI
- Michigan Wildlife Art Festival -East, Southfield, MI
- Butler Institute of American Art Museum, 2011 Mid-Year Show
- Florida Wildlife Exposition, Orlando, FL
- Wildlife West Festival, San Bernardino, CA
- Glynn Art Association, St. Simmons Is., GA
- Cultural Arts Council, Estes Park, CO
- The Mastersí Art Show in Ligonier, Ligonier, PA
- Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, Memphis, TN
- Wildlife Art News Magazine Remarque Contest 1995 finalists
- Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Tacoma, WA
- Wildlife, Western & Americana Art Exhibit, Minneapolis, MN
- Wildlife Heritage Art Show, Minneapolis, MN
- Mill Creek Park 150th Anniversary Poster, Youngstown, OH
- Poland Township Bicentennial Commemorative Print/Poster, Poland, OH
- Shaverîs Creek Raptor Ctr. Wildlife Art Festival, Penn State University,
State College, PA
- Gallery Oneís -Masterworks in Miniature, Mentor, OH
- Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Charleston, SC
- International Exhibition of Miniature Art - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Wildlife Carving and Art Festival, Chardon, OH
- Ohio Bird Sanctuary Wings & Talons Art Show-
- Loveland Invitational Show & Sale, Loveland, CO
- Arts in the Parks, Canfield, OH -Featured Artist
- Windber Area Museum, Windber, PA
- Wildlife West Festival, San Bernardino, CA
- Glynn Art Association, St. Simmons Is., GA
- Cultural Arts Council, Estes Park, CO
- The Mastersí Art Show in Ligonier, Ligonier, PA
- Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, Memphis, TN
- Wildlife Art News Magazine Remarque Contest 1995 finalists
- Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Tacoma, WA
- Wildlife, Western & Americana Art Exhibit, Minneapolis, MN
- Wildlife Heritage Art Show, Minneapolis, MN
- Mill Creek Park 150th Anniversary Poster, Youngstown, OH
- Poland Township Bicentennial Commemorative Print/Poster, Poland, OH
- Shaverîs Creek Raptor Ctr. Wildlife Art Festival, Penn State University,
State College, PA
- Gallery Oneís -Masterworks in Miniature, Mentor, OH
- Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Charleston, SC
- International Exhibition of Miniature Art - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Wildlife Carving and Art Festival, Chardon, OH
- Ohio Bird Sanctuary Wings & Talons Art Show-
- Loveland Invitational Show & Sale, Loveland, CO
- Arts in the Parks, Canfield, OH -Featured Artist
- Windber Area Museum, Windber, PA