I find painting landscapes the most challenging form of art that I’ve done. I’ve probably had more failures than successes. But I’m drawn to vivid colors and mother nature has embedded them in these beautiful landscapes—Ireland’s green fields, Arizona’s desert golds and browns, California’s blue skies and water.

I especially love painting oceans and skies. I’ll drive down early to Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay to catch the sun coming up over the Santa Cruz mountains and reflect on the ocean. Or to Baker Beach in San Francisco when the fog is just starting to lift and reveal the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ve painted in oils, acrylics and gouache, used traditional canvasses and flat glass from recycled recessed lighting, and done paint pours to create the illusion of waves in turmoil. Oceans and skies lend themselves to creativity.