I live for those moments when I cross paths with beauty–moments that offer the opportunity to stop and sense the world as it is in the present. Sometimes the stimulus is a natural phenomenon like a sunset or wild thunderstorm clouds; other times it is a piece of art or music. In that vein, one of the great joys in my life is being an instrument of such experiences for others, whether it’s ironwork I’ve made for someone’s home which they use daily, or a piece of art that brings purely aesthetic beauty. The materials I use vary: from iron and steel heated and forged; to charcoal rubbed onto paper; to oil paint brushed on canvas or linen. I love techniques and processes that are old and time tested, like blacksmithing tools that have remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years. Some of that appeal is a reaction against the disposable culture in which we live. Another aspect is how I enjoy the feel of hammer and steel in my hands, or oil paint, loaded on a brush and applied to a canvas. Art is a very sensory experience, rooted in the physicality of my existence. In any of the media I utilize, I aim to be fully present in the moment and absorbed in the process. I ask my rational self to step aside and let creativity flow without inhibition. I seek that magical place where it feels like the work is making itself and I am just the conduit. Whether that ideal is reached or not, there is something intangible in works of art that can be experienced by the viewer: a glimpse into the process and energy of the artist. By sharing my work, I am offering viewers the opportunity to step away from their harried and distracted lives and make a connection to the present moment. In that moment, they are also connected with me.