The BEAR

As you wander through a dark and cold forest on you journey up the mountain, you finally see it. Small glimpse of light peaking its way through the fog. And as you walk towards it the light begins to grow and you start to feel its warmth, giving you a sense of hope that you haven't felt in a long time. But just as started to let this hope fill you up, you see it in your path. It’s coming straight towards you and you can feel its eyes looking straight into your soul. Your biggest fears, doubts and insecurities are blocking your path forward and all you want to do is run. But that means going right back to where you started.
If you choose to face this creature you are confronting yourself, fighting against the darkest shadows of your being for a small chance to find the light that you’ve been seeking. When you look into it’s eyes you see what those shadows have turned you into, a shell of the person you are truly meant to be, corrupted by bitterness, hatred and fear. You didn’t realize how much you have changed throughout this journey. And you start to remember that you haven’t always been in this dark forest, but you’ve been here so long that its all you know.
You might not know it, but the bear is standing in front of you right now. Will you have the courage to face it order to move towards the light? And more importantly, will you have the heart to face the next one that comes along?

Original Piece Size: 38"x38"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

The Cattle Rancher and Scotch

Charles "Chuck" A. Sanger was photographed in 1967 after trailing cattle home to  Sanger Ranch from the summer range. Chuck was a 5th generation cattle rancher in The North Platte River Valley of Southern Wyoming.

In October of 2022 I was contacted by someone who wanted to memorialize her recently deceased father who was a 5th generation cattle rancher in The North Platte River Valley of Southern Wyoming. I felt so honored to receive such an intimate and meaningful project and for the next 4 months I worked tirelessly to make a painting worthy of such a significant person. While working on this painting I thought a lot about the person I was painting and what he might have meant to the family who so recently lost him and while there aren’t many comparisons between a cattle rancher and an oil painter I thought of a few. While painting Chuck I thought of the concept of meaningful work and how he must have found so much joy and fulfillment doing what he loved everyday of his life. And no matter the difficulties that came with this lifestyle he always chose to live in alignment with who he truly was. Ranching, hunting and being in nature was how he interacted with the world so the long days of exhaustion labor were always worth it. I also thought of his love for his family and his commitment to their wellbeing. His presence seemed to tie his family all together and even when his presence took the a different form in this painting, he brought them all together with beautiful memories and stories.

It’s really hard to describe but this whole project felt so much bigger than me. I feel like I was allowed to use my craft to help this family heal. Upon delivery, they welcomed me into their home with hugs and tears and wanted to hear every detail of my artistic process. This painting seemed to help bring them closure and an understanding that Chuck will always be with them in their memories and stories.

Original Piece Size: 36"x48"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Chosen Family

Standard pet portraits are already a joy to make but when the client said that they wanted ALL THREE of their family dogs in one painting I knew this would make for an awesome project.

This painting is titled "Chosen Family" and features three family dogs from different time periods spanning almost 30 years for this family. I honestly cannot think of a more meaningful painting that honors these lovely companions. It was an honor creating this piece and I really appreciate the client's enthusiasm about this project.

Original Piece Size: 16"x20"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Newly Weds

This piece was commissioned by the best friend of the groom as a wedding present for theses lovely newlyweds. And as a special twist he asked that I replace the painting behind them with a painting of the grooms childhood home and dog!

I feel so lucky to have been contacted about this special project and I hope that the couple enjoys this painting for years to come!

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Unnatural Bliss

This piece was commissioned by a fellow volleyball player who wanted to show he’s love for volleyball and his love for the town of Los Alamos in one painting. This piece took a LOT of planning and time intensive work but it was all worth it in the end! Believe it or not I made the reference for this painting in photoshop by stitching together almost 15 different images so that I could create the perfect picturesque volleyball nature scene. So in a way this painting shows a beautiful imagined world where volleyball can be played and good times can be had!

Original Piece Size: 24"x30"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Dreaming Together

For this commission I was contacted by someone who was hoping I could create this beautiful scene as a wedding present for his son and soon to be daughter-in-law. This exact spot on Dream Lake is where the couple got engaged and so he thought this would make for a very meaningful painting for them as they started their lifelong journey together.
I feel so fortunate that I was contacted about this project and that I was trusted to create this special piece on a tight timeline. I hope that this painting will bring joy to the happy couple as it hangs in their home for years to come

Original Piece Size: 18"x24"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Coexistence

In this painting we see humans and nature in complete harmony. We have done the work to understand our role in this world and now seek to preserve the important balance of nature. We now understand that every tiny insect and microscopic creature plays a part in our world and though we as humans are capable of many incredible things this does not diminish the significance of any other life on this planet. When we choose to coexist with and not dominate the natural world we find that it provides so much more than we ever thought. And we can have room in our hearts to give back to the planet that has given us everything we could have ever wanted.

Original Piece Size: 9"x12"

Medium: Oil on Panel

When Our Work is Done

“Our hands represent our ability to work, to create, to hug, to wave, to congratulate. They hint at how hard our life was and how fragile we really are. My dad’s hands are a window into how he lived his life. He was a tireless hard worker and used his hands to build and create many a building, out of bricks, blocks, glass, and wood. The scars and callouses on his hands also give a glimpse that he did not live in fear and was tough enough to do anything he put his mind to. In his final hours, his hands were still strong and yet soft. I will miss dad and his hands.”
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…”
I chose to name this piece "When Our Work is Done" because Levi was a worker and a problem solver all of his life and now he finally gets to rest.
Levi will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

The Fight for Freedom

This piece was commissioned by Esperanza Law, a firm that specializes in immigration law and representation. They wanted this piece to be the first thing clients would see when entering their office as a welcoming symbol for those why may be underserved and seeking refuge

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

A Moment Stretched to Eternity

The recipient of this painting lost her partner in 2018 and hoping I could create a a painting of him enjoying his favorite spot in Montana. When I agreed to take on this project, I wanted to approach it with the upmost sensitivity and respect in a way that would memorialize this person and visualize him enjoying his favorite place in the world. I wanted to show him in a truly better place free from the complications of our world.
I hope this piece can serve as a reminder of the wonderful life that has been lived and the wonderful life that is still unfolding.

Original Piece Size: 24"x36"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Ghost Ranch Sunset

This custom piece was for a couple who loves the New Mexico landscape and they have a particular affinity for Ghost Ranch. They wanted this piece to showcase the unique rock formations found in this area and a stunning sunset complete with dynamic clouds. The scale of this piece also adds to the dramatic image.

Original Piece Size: 36"x48"

Medium: Oil on Panel

New Mexico Sunset

This commissioned painting was for a client in New Mexico how wanted a painting that showcased the vibrant colors seen in the unique New Mexican landscape at sunset. The colors, shapes and textures normally found on a mesa can be greatly enhanced when lit by a fiery sunset.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

The Beauty of Castle Rock

This custom painting was for a client who had bought a plot of land in Castle Rock CO and was planning on building a house in this exact spot. He wanted to record the incredible view from the spot of his family’s future house so that they could always look back at this painting and see what the land was like before new developments. He wanted to capture the rural beauty of this location by showing the balance of human homes and farms with the surrounding nature.

Original Piece Size: 24"x40"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Protective Forest

For this commission, the client was looking for something very similar to my Terra Human painting “Fragmentation.” Nature is always there to comfort us when we need it the most. If we listen closely we can learn from its ancient wisdom and perfect harmony.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Silent Poise

This commissioned painting was a pleasure to create. The client wanted the piece to have a very similar look and composition to my Terra Human painting “Surrender.” This piece illustrates quiet strength and the reassurance of knowing your identity and sticking to it through thick and thin.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Forgiven

This commissioned painting required a lot of planning and attention to detail. The client sent me a personal photo of Roman Catholic church El Santuario de Chimayo and requested to have an illustration of Jesus over the church with his arms outstretched. This commission was a pleasure to create and it really pushed my skills to a new level.

Original Piece Size: 16"x20"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Nelly Belly

This commissioned painting was a fun pet portrait of my friend's dog Nelly. I really enjoyed working on this piece because I felt it showed the strength in companionship and unconditional love. This person has a strong emotional connection to her dog  in a way that seems they both heavily rely on each other for support in a sort of give and take. I felt honored to create this painting for her.

Original Piece Size: 12"x12"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Garden and Peak

This commissioned painting was meant to capture the beautiful and  dynamic colors and textures of Colorado Springs.  The client wanted to showcase Colorado springs as it was the stage for the beginnings of a significant relationship.

Original Piece Size: 12"x24"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Relational Harmony

This commissioned painting started with basic instructions to create an abstract landscape with a brown color palette. "Relational Harmony" brings to light the harmony found in the imperfections of familial relationships. The flaws, blemishes and mistakes found in a landscape can make it as unique and dynamic as a human relationship if we approach it with compassion and love.

Original Piece Size: 30"x40"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Piney Lake

This commissioned painting was meant to highlight the vibrant colors found in a landscape and how they can inspire the viewer. The client wanted to see the changing colors in the aspen trees and how they contrast the pine trees. Working on this piece gave me a great appreciation for the time and effort it takes to replicate the subtleties of nature.

Original Piece Size: 22"x54"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Influence

This commissioned painting was made to resemble my digital pieces "White Forest" and "Underwater Trees." This gestural abstract style was developed by drawing inspiration from trees, plants, foliage and many other things found in nature. The composition of this painting grew from a singular spot and layers influenced other layers.

Original Piece Size: 30"x60"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Family Beginnings

This commissioned piece was for new family who wanted to be represented in a futuristic and fantastical way. The several artworks I have created showcasing robots tend to create contrasting themes of human intimacy and connection shown in a robotic form.

Original Piece Size:  36"x48"

Medium: Oil on Panel