Being a Portrait Artist in Los Angeles has inspired me in so many ways. Much of my art work is inspired by things I see in my daily life. Whether it is a billboard, a street sign, something in the park, or an animal, there is always the question, "What if..." The imagination can always create something out of nothing, but to twist reality into a realm of dreams and fantasy, is what drives the human mind to question what it sees. Oil painting is not just the simple act of painting oil on canvas, it's bringing human emotion, creativity and life into the final piece as a whole. There is story behind every painting and every brush stoke that creates it. Haven't you ever heard the saying, "If only paintings could speak." Well, they do! Every painting tells a story about a time period, the artist who painted it, something of value or interest for the viewer, or a combination off all of these things. Many of my paintings, surreal or traditional, tell a story about my life, the life of the people portrayed or a representation of an inspiration that changed me. I want my viewers to not only see my paintings, but to really look at the details and question what is happening. It's more important to me that someone wants to understand my work and question how it came to be, rather than focus on anything technical about the painting process. Although I love teaching and explaining my techniques, it's always more fun to see the inquisitive look on the viewers face when they see my work for the first time. See my Custom Pet Portraits Gallery here.