Three years ago, I decided to buy a drone. My hope was that it would inspire my landscape work and enhance my art overall. I could only imagine how fun it would be to fly around like a bird and see unique views of the world. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed with this decision.
Drone technology has done exactly for me as I hoped it would. I now fly a Phantom 4 Pro and enjoy every minute of being in the sky. The drone is incredibly stable, easy to fly and takes great photos and video of the world. To date, I have created eleven drone paintings.
This past fall, I took photos of Lawrence, KS. It’s always nice to look for good shots of the University of Kansas and the city in general. Just a few weeks ago, I wrapped up a painting entitled, “Downtown Lawrence,” commissioned by Professional Engineering Consultants. This acrylic painting measures 42X84 inches. I’m thrilled with the way this painting has transformed the entry area of their office.
As a painter, I’m always looking for new painting techniques. When I look over my work, I would say that I have three to four different styles I use. For instance, when I want to render architecture, I stick to acrylic paint. The Lawrence painting above is an example. This fast drying paint allows me to create quickly and leave room for abstraction and texture. Conversely, when I want to create soft highly-rendered skies, I stick to using oil paint and linseed oil. Below is a painting I just wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. This storm scene of the Flint Hills is based on a wonderful photo by Jason Soden.
Many people who follow my art are probably less familiar with my abstract work. This is my most personal mode of creating. In these abstract expressionistic paintings, I use a variety of paints. First, I use acrylic paint to lay the base color. Second, I apply even more acrylic paint and usually oil stick. This allows me to draw like a crayon and make rough and messy marks. Third and last, I use oil paint if I think the painting needs additional shading and textures. Applying paint this way helps me stay loose and energetic.
In the future, I hope to continue to push the materials I use. I want there to be life and freshness in all of my work. Whether drone-inspired landscapes, classic Kansas storm scenes or abstract work, every painting should have a sense of movement and energy to it. Every painting should evoke emotion and bring satisfaction to the viewer.
If you would like to follow my stages as I create, you can find me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!