My paintings are more authentic if I have personal experiences with my subjects.

My first step in creating a painting is research — and a lot of it. I have an extensive research library that I’m always building and I reference my own photos as much as possible. I enjoy studying the natural behavior of my subjects, and observing them in person allows me to immerse myself in the details. World travel has expanded my vision by allowing me to explore different ecosystems. Motivated to see our changing planet first hand, I've participated in many scientific expeditions all over the world. I’ve sailed to extremely remote islands in Papua New Guinea searching for rare birds where I held birds of paradise in my hands. I swam with penguins and walked amongst blue footed boobies and giant tortoises on the Galapagos islands. I’ve hiked across the red sand in Australia, and across some of the world’s oldest rocks searching for elephant shrews in the vast desert terrain of Namibia. My wanderlust brought me to the lush mossy forest of New Zealand and Malaysia to the foggy coastal redwood forest where I now call home. 

I have witnessed the impact of human actions, including climate change, on different ecosystems throughout the world. I’ve participated in surveys that study how ecosystems are impacted by encroaching fires and how deforestation and misguided land management can devastate old growth forests. I’ve seen firsthand how the introduction of invasive species can destroy native species and ecosystems and the effects of pollution on urban streams. My experience of this varied, changing landscape across the world has completely captivated me, and as biodiversity populations continue to decrease in my lifetime, I am motivated to share what I learn.

Through my work, I collaborate with individuals and institutions to create community and empower people to make a lasting difference. Working closely with biologists over the last 15 years has taught me so much. Their hard work and dedication amazes me and inspires me to create paintings that celebrate the biodiversity of the natural world. If I can't gain access to certain species, like my recent deep-sea paintings, I work directly with nature photographers and scientists and give them the credit they deserve. I've also learned how (and volunteered) to do taxidermy preparations of animals for museum collections to better understand anatomy. Researching prepared specimens at natural history museums, zoos, and watching videos online of the creatures moving all really helps as well. I also read a lot of natural science and animal behavior books to better understand my subjects.