A visual record of changing light, shifting seasons, and emerging structures across Northern California.
Every painting begins on location.
Drawing in the field allows me to process light, structure, and atmosphere in real time. These sketchbooks and plein air studies serve as the raw visual foundation for my studio oil paintings—capturing immediate impressions of geometry, line, and light before they translate to panel.
My Sketchbook Process
My sketchbook practice is a reflection of a personal journey, inspired in large part by my gym community. Thanks to their encouragement, I built the strength and endurance to hike further into the field, which directly expanded my comfort with painting outdoors. Just as a solid workout begins with small steps and a proper warm-up, so does my creative practice. My sketchbook serves as a hybrid of a journal, a tool for relaxation, and a warm-up for larger studio works—a space where big ideas grow from small, deliberate steps.
The following studies trace this ongoing practice across the seasons, documenting shifting light, changing atmosphere, and emerging structures from January through September.
