studio notes
Studio Note: Painting the Union Pacific Rail Yard
While scouting familiar industrial corners of Eugene, I finally set up to paint a long-observed Union Pacific rail yard off Irving Road. This small 10x8-inch plein air study captures the rhythm of stationary boxcars, overhead wires, and the quiet movement of engines beneath the freeway overpass. With an eye toward structure and contrast, I worked to balance the hard-edged geometry of the scene against the softer forms of the distant hillside, all while navigating the usual on-site challenges of scale, composition, and curious passersby.
Life of an Easel
My studio has been in many places. A studio is as much about the objects inside it as it is about the space itself. The rooms change, but the tools—the easel, the taboret, the brushes—stick around. They carry the history.
On Style
Style isn't just a visual signature - it's a residue. The build-up of habits, opinions, and preferences that quietly leave their mark across every surface you touch.