In the past 10 years I have focused my attention on man-made structures such as old bridges, art deco buildings, ice cream establishments, diners, and private residences. Some of the paintings surfaces have sprung from an early interest in American abstract expressionism. In art school I painted large abstract, gestural paintings focusing on surface scale, color and mood. Now, I find working representationally has helped me find more content in my paintings. My series of paintings on Tampa Urban Structures are influenced by American painters Thomas Eatkins and Richard Estes. I use bright colors and patterns reflective of Florida’s unique lighting and environment. Most recently I’ve been inspired to capture the unique culture of Florida’s Fish Camps. These are individualistic structures that are vulnerable to being eroded by our quickly developing society. “US 1 Showdown with Charley” represents the classic showdown. Its part of America’s history. Two adversaries facing off, only one winner left standing. As I was driving down US-1 shortly after Hurricane Charley made it’s way across our state I was struck by the forlornness of this cowboy left battered and broken by his showdown with the winds of the hurricane. The cowboy represents the battle of man versus nature. Often what man builds up, nature tears down. And as we have become increasingly aware through hurricanes, tornado’s and a tsunami – what man builds is no match against nature at its worst. This tattered cowboy was, a short while later, finished off by Hurricane Jeanne. I was born in Franklin, Indiana in 1954. After getting my MFA in painting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1980, I returned to Central Florida to pursue a career in aerospace illustration. After doing that for twenty years, I have returned to my roots as a fine artist. Education: MFA, Painting University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1980 BFA, Painting, John Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis Indiana, 1978 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine, 1977