What the Pacific Northwest taught me about painting

I've always been an artist... since I can remember, I've been drawing in notepads or in my diaries. Growing up in Los Angeles wasn't the best place to inspire me. Full of smog and heat and a very fast-paced life... being an artist was not in the cards for me at the time.

It wasn't until I relocated to Washington and achieved sobriety that I found the inspiration to create Beyond the Pencil. This place holds a unique beauty. The foggy mornings, the moss-covered trees on rainy afternoons, the scent of rain on the earth, and the cotton candy sunsets over the Puget Sound create the perfect moody atmosphere to inspire anyone.

The charming place I reside in has greatly influenced my paintings. Capturing the enchanting, fleeting moments in a photograph and then transforming them into a magical, whimsical escape through my oil paintings has contributed to my growth as an artist over the years.

Learning to paint the clouds with the sun shining through, and how the colors blend to create the perfect sky glowing over the ocean. I've been captivated by the colors I've managed to capture with paint. I've created numerous paintings, both abstract and impressionistic, through the perspective of this world I call home.

I've painted the moss on the bark, the mushrooms that grow and glow beneath the rocks, and the little animals that awaken in the spring. The snowy mountain peaks overlooking the water, the blooming flowers, and the red and orange trees during my favorite time of the year in the fall. It's been a joy to learn and grow with my art, inspired by all the beauty I encounter daily on my walks and explorations with my family.

As I continue to grow and learn, I will always use this treasure to enhance my style and paintings, capturing even more beauty. I aim to create luminous and whimsical paintings for all of us who love the forest and nature.