Painting teaches me how to see the world. I note the colors, the shadows, the shapes of everything around me. I am a teaching artist and I love to see others start to notice the world in a different way. I want my paintings to convey my passion for all the beauty which surrounds me. When I paint, I experience the present moment: a god or zen space if you will. In that regard my life as an artist is a spiritual path as well. The meaning of creating art to me is simple: slow down, and see beyond the ordinary.