Painting portraits in oil is for me the greatest challenge of artistic expression. As a native of London, England, I've had the opportunity to make frequent visits to the National Gallery (one of the world's great art treasures) and other fine collections in Europe. As much as I admire the many masterworks in various genres, portraits have the most profound effect on me. In particular, I am held by the characterization that is clearly evident in many works of the Old Masters. Artists of influence for me (for their characterization and painterly quality) include Hals, Rembrandt, Titian, and Velazquez.

With the aid of a camera and other optical devices, rendering a likeness can be a relatively straightforward task for the portrait artist today. Rendering character, however, remains the real challenge. Using techniques adapted from the old masters, I find genuine satisfaction in exploring character and rendering the true person through oil on canvas.