• How closely do the images on the computer match the actual painting?
Fairly close, but it really depends on your monitor's resolution and the kind of computer you are using. The greatest difference I have noticed is that on Macs, the blues often have a weird turquoise-teal cast and the reds are scary-bright. Most of my paintings feature naturally bright, sunny skies with puffy clouds and feature some kind of water. I try to be as true to the original scene as possible with natural colors, so keep this in mind when viewing. For some reason watercolors just don't photograph well for the web.

• Why is the picture somewhat blurry on my computer?
I compress the digital images so they load quickly on your computer. This also prevents copyright infringement. If you are serious about a painting, please email me and I will send you a larger, clearer image to view.

• Please define the size dimensions provided.
Image size is the part of the painting you can see (inside the mat). Frame size is the part of the painting and mat that actually fit inside the frame. This is the dimension you need when purchasing a frame. I haven't seen a need for the very outside dimension of the piece, but it is usually 2-3" beyond the frame size.

• How are the paintings matted and framed?
All paintings are archivally matted with Bainbridge AlphaMats, archival FoamCor backing. The top mat color is Matte White and 1/4" or 1/8" bottom color is Medieval Forest (green), Venetian Garnet (deep red), or Sapphire (blue). The color I choose depends on the painting itself and is meant to enhance the scene, not participate in it. Most paintings are framed in a subtle gold-toned wood frame, but I also use a lovely medium walnut frame. I'm not a frameshop, so I stick with the more traditional style frames. If you want to get creative, just ask for the painting unframed.

• Can I purchase a painting unframed?
Absolutely! Just call or email me for a revised price (10% off the framed price). If you are going to invest in a painting, it is so important that you have a frame that completes the piece according to your personal style. (This is actually how I have purchased artwork for myself in the past.)

• Do you paint from real life or from photographs?
Photographs - I have thousands of them that I reference for painting. My Dad is a fantastic photographer and naturalist (http://www.biophiliatours.com/), and I have used some of his photographs as source material (these are credited as appropriate). Painting from photographs enables me to paint whenever the mood strikes without any thought to weather or location. I also prefer to paint upside down, and photographs make this a bit easier.

• Do you paint commissioned pieces?
Sometimes, but it really depends on the subject matter and whether or not I have taken the original photo. Some scenes are just not inspiring to me, which means the painting process is very difficult and the results may not be to my liking. I welcome suggestions of particular subjects or locations for future paintings, so please let me know what interests you.

• Will you paint a portrait of my gerbil or my parakeet?
Sorry, but painting pets is just not my forte. As much as my cats would thoroughly enjoy helping your small pet pose in interesting situations, I have found that painting most animals (and people) is just not my forte. I used to have quite a talent for painting cats (both domestic and wild), but I lost interest a few years back and it just has not returned.

• What painting subject has given you the most grief? How did you overcome it?
Birds! I'm still working on sea gulls that blend into the landscape without detracting from it. Some of my early work featured what looked like (to most observers) fat, flying chickens soaring through the air with beaks open and wings outstretched as they brazenly defied gravity. The joke among my friends was to discover where I had hidden the flying chicken, much like a Where's Waldo kind of thing. Not quite the effect I was going for! I started putting the birds on the edge of the painting so I could cut the painting down with scissors if need be and salvage some of my work. It was painful and very frustrating to see an otherwise beautiful painting fall apart with a strange round object dropping out of the sky like a lead weight.

Never one to give up, I took many photos of sea gulls, and begged my Dad to send me some of his pictures so that I could study their physiology, both in flight and at rest. I finally figured it out and haven't had a chicken appear in the sky in maybe 5 years. The key was sketching them on a piece of scrap paper before approaching the final watercolor. I knew that if I couldn't draw the bird, I certainly couldn't paint it. What you can't see from the web photos are the glorious sea gulls in many of my paintings that now have delicate feet and soft feathers rustling in the wind.

• When do you update the website?
Immediately after a painting sells, when I have added new content, or if the current layout needs to be shaken up a bit. Here's a hint - the image on the home page usually changes when the site has been updated. Unless the home page painting is so extraordinary that it just has to stay for a longer period of time!

• I am interested in a painting that is no longer on the website. Where did it go?
Chances are that it is still available, but was removed to make room for new work. I like to rearrange paintings on the site so that they seem fresh and new. If you email me about a certain painting, I can tell you for sure.

• Who maintains the website?
Me! I'm a secret computer geek and I take full responsibility for the entire website, from concept to creation to maintenance. The site has had many incarnations over the past few years as I find better ways to display my work on the web.