When I paint I record something that exists in the moment and that day. The reality of the subject stands before me, or I'm in the thick of it, and if I'm lucky  something inside me says "You need to and must paint this."  Whether a falling down homestead or the beauty of nature, I put myself in the position of bringing a place to life on the  canvas.  It sounds easy, but of course it isn't.
       Other times I paint simply to capture what I see and learn from the experience of painting.  I challenge myself, trying to get the light, the shapes and values; meanwhile the changing elements might bring out laughter in mild frustration.  After years of working en plein air I am usually able to relax and figure out what I must do to make the painting successful.  Sometimes I scrape out and start over.  A brush stroke, perhaps obscure yet deliberate, can bring the piece together.  Painting on location, being with nature, easily gives me what I need to be inspired and have fun.
      I hope the viewer will appreciate seeing what I have painted, not for the technique or style, but for the unexplainable essence beyond the visual impact or impression.  I enjoy returning to a site to paint the scene again; nothing is the same, the spirit changes and a new experience emerges and unfolds.  I have another painting for people to enjoy.