Size: 6 x 8 x 1.5 inches

Medium: Copper Etching Plate

Inspiration: This piece was inspired by a visit to a friend's summer house in the Swedish Archipelago in the Baltic Sea. Originally presented in January 2019 at a McGuffey Art Center Show.

Size: 24 x 36 x 1.5 inches

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: This piece was inspired by conversations with Scott and Anna and their two daughters about where they feel most at home and inspired. Like me, they are also drawn to nature and landscapes. But, learning that they love fall and winter best and being within forest canopies, I settled on a winter scene near both our homes in Sugar Hollow. The warm colors that come out in the bleakest of winter months, especially with the sun's glow, always astounds me. And, I think there are lots of parallels to their own journey (and mine as well) of light amidst dark.

Size: 24 x 36 inches

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Inspiration: The inspiration for this piece is Kehinde Wiley but with a nature inspired twist. I fell in love with Wiley's work the first moment I saw it. I love his colors, his patterns, and his bold, vibrant backgrounds. I personally find a lot of joy, humor, and peace when it comes to animals so I have been working on this series of funny faced animals for quite a few years now.

Size: 11 x 14 inches

Medium: Sea Glass

Inspiration: I am very fond of hummingbirds. My workspace at home sits in front of a big window looking out into my back yard, where I have two hummingbird feeders. I'm always hopeful that a sweet hummingbird or two will visit. I don't see them as often as I'd like, so I consider it such a treat when they stop by.
This piece was made with mostly smaller bits of rare turquoise sea glass, mixed with white glass and paired with a few watercolor flowers.

Size: 11 x 14 inches

Medium: Sea Glass

Inspiration: This is my family inspired piece that I made from mostly crushed pieces of mussel shells, along with bits of white sea glass and beach pebbles. I was so taken with Pheobe Joy and what a little "social butterfly" she is - she spent most of our time together in my lap and couldn't have been more content! We were both wearing purple bows in our hair, and I felt like we were fast friends. Just as her name signifies, she is just as sweet and joyful as she can be. I was honored to spend time with this precious family.

Size: 3.5 x 4.5 inches

Medium: Sea Glass

Inspiration: This piece is a part of the "Clara Collection." My youngest daughter, Clara, inspired me to start a line of sea glass art created for tiny frames. They are sweet in their simplicity and so much fun. This delicious ice cream cone was made from bits of brown and white sea glass and reminds me of being a kid again!

Size: 12 x 12 inches

Mediums: Oil on canvas

Inspiration: This piece captures the simplicity of those quiet summer days where normal life pressures are off and you take a moment to stand still, feel the breeze, smell the greenness all around and be fully present.

Size: 18 x 18 inches

Medium: Oil on canvas

Inspiration: I went for a walk behind our daughters' elementary school one cool, crisp March day and the farmland was barren and the sky was this bright bright blue and the sun was so bright. Like the landscape, my life just felt clear and hopeful for new life in that moment.

Size: 30 x 30 inches

Medium: Oil on panel

Inspiration: Having grown up exploring the outdoors with my family, Nature has always been a welcoming place, full of fascination. As a landscape painter, I love connecting to the natural world through the creative process. I felt a kinship with the Pankau family as they shared stories of spending time together in Nature: at the lake, at the beach, or in the mountains, hiking, camping, playing, and having adventures together. I was inspired to hear that being immersed in Nature, sitting around the campfire, helped them to create that atmosphere of peace, safety, love, and togetherness that their family needed. Nature is our Sanctuary. It is there for all of us, and we all need it. I created an imaginary landscape inspired by the places, experiences, and emotions that the Pankau family shared with me, combined with memories from my own childhood. I hope this painting honors our collective connection to Nature and may spark in the viewer feelings of joy, adventure, discovery and belonging.

Size: 36 x 36 inches

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Inspiration: The visual of a shifting sky scape represents something very true of the foster and adoption experience, and of all human relationships. There are hard moments and easy ones, there is hope and despair, and there is darkness and light in each of us. The more deeply we commit to knowing and loving another person, the more of the paradoxical dark and light we open ourselves up to. We naturally want to pull away from the dark, messy, hard parts and yearn for the bright, joyous, easy ones, but the reality is that we can't have one without the other. This piece is a visual juxtaposition of that lightness and darkness, a nod to the fact that while we rightly aspire for the good, beautiful parts of life together, the hard, tumultuous moments have a place too, and when we are present to both, it can make the goodness shine all the more brightly.

Size: 14 x 30 inches

Medium: Photograph

Inspiration: The inspiration for this "Revelations Series: The Many Faces of Flowers" of three photographs was to show different facets of a flower.

Size: 24 x 20 inches

Medium: Gouache on paper

Inspiration: This piece was inspired by the story of Joanne Boyle and her daughter Ngoty. Joanne was able to provide me with a series of photos that she took on her many trips to Senegal before bringing Ngoty to Virginia in the process of her adoption. One of the things that Joanne told me about Senegal was the vibrancy of the people there, the dancing and singing, bright colors everywhere. The particular photo that inspired me was ultimately of the children there. I realize how many things about children are universal, no matter what country, culture, and circumstance they find themselves in. This painting is meant to simulate creativity and play that exudes from children. They can bring so much hope into our lives.

Size: 8 x 10 inches

Medium: Metallic ink on paper

Inspiration: As an artist, I love creating portraits. This particular portrait was created without a particular subject in mind, but as it materialized, it seems to convey a person who has seen struggle, but remains hopeful. I believe each person that encounters this gaze may see and experience it differently.

Size: 22 x 30 inches

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper

Inspiration: I was inspired by the elements of weather and nature in Kara and Laura's adoption stories, and wanted to create a portrait of the family in a natural environment where they feel a sense of calm and peace.

Size: 30 x 30 inches

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Inspiration: I prepped the canvas with the words "Born from my heart." I included all of the family's initials and the dates that the adoptions were finalized. I also included the scripture Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." I am blown away by her strength and bravery to do this completely on her own. I included three rainbows to represent three family members. She said she loved bright colors, geometric shapes, and wanted the adoption triad incorporated in the painting. It has been a joy getting to know this sweet family and telling their amazing story through paint.

Size: 8" Pot

Mediums: Clay, kiln, molding tools, and glazes

Inspiration: Most of the time I don't decide what I'm making until the pot is finished. The clay can have a mind of it's own and I try to be loose with the direction its headed in. With this piece I really wanted to make something bold and bigger than what I normally make. It was a challenge throwing the piece all in one go instead of throwing it in sections but it was a very satisfying outcome when I finished the piece. The name means blue in the language where the family I was partnered with adopted their daughter.

Size: 8 x 10 x 3.5 inches

Medium: Walnut, Brass, Blackened Oak

Inspiration: Upon speaking with the Clayton family, I was reflecting on the weight of what it is like to hold a child in your hearts as part of your family consciousness but to be separated by half a world of physical distance. I was also considering what it is to be a family, in general. Shelter and embrace are words that occurred to me. Family can be a place to be held, physically and in the hearts and consciousnesses of the others. The drop shape is one to which I have gravitated over my life. Besides the graceful form, it communicates a sense of being held, as in a womb or in cradling, embracing arms. Equally, though, it communicates a sense of heaviness, a weight, sinking in the belly of the form, just as each member of a family carries and cradles the weight of the others in their various forms and despite physical location. I chose to make nesting forms, one for each member of the Clayton family, each held within the others, to manifest how the son they wait to hold physically is held, cradled, and loved in each member of their family, nonetheless.

Size: 24 x 36 inches

Medium: Oil on Mylar

Inspiration: An exploration of the complexity of the human relationship to nature.

Size: 16 x 24 inches

Medium: Photography

Inspiration: The thing I love the most about a lot of people here in Charlottesville, we keep each other safe. We stand up for each other. I've been here for 6 years and this place has definitely showed what community looks like. This photo was taken at a protest in Charlottesville during the summer of 2020 protests.

Size: 20 x 24 inches

Medium: Photograph

Inspiration: I made this photograph while on a trip with friends in Wisconsin. There were flat fields everywhere and the most brilliant sunsets at night with vibrant, saturated colors like what's in the piece. "Sweetgrass at Sunset" shows the simplicity of those flat lands and fields and captures how calming they were to be walking in at night.

Size: 11 x 14 inches

Medium: Watercolor, Ink and Thread

Inspiration: My inspiration was thinking about last summer, when we were in the midst of the pandemic and several Friday evenings in a row there were giant rainbows over our neighborhood and Charlottesville?moments of joy and natural symbols of hope right when we needed it most.

Size: 42 x 42 inches

Medium: Mixed Media

Inspiration: It was such an honor to hear The Beckers share about their family. The story I got to hear was so different than what I would have ever thought to hear…there were so many complications outside of the family or their little ones. The Beckers perseverance and belief was what stood out to me. Every storm they endured was worth it. They truly carry a joy and peace about them that is a miracle. I saw the love in their family being able to be together was what they focused on and so I did too.

Size: 11 x 14 inches, 19 x 23 inches in frame

Medium: Photograph

Inspiration: My wife and I stumbled upon this beautiful snow capped mountain en route to Mt. Cook in New Zealand. It was absolutely breathtaking so we pulled over alongside the highway (with a dozen other cars) to take it all in. There was a feeling of peace that I'm not sure can ever be recreated. I'll never forget this moment. The photo looks great in color, however, I decided to make this version black in white, channelling my inner Ansel Adams. To me, there is a certain depth and beauty in black in white photos that, at times, get lost in color photos. This is one of my favorite photos of all time. I hope to put it into a book one day.

Size: 16 x 20 inches

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Inspiration: My inspiration is always that ocean /water that I adore. I find water and being by water immensely healing and it is one of my great loves.