Fine art has always been in my life. Growing up in Springfield, Pennsylvania, our house was filled with paintings by my cousin, who was a professional artist, and by my mother, my grandfather, and various aunts and uncles who were all hobbyists. As a result, my siblings and I always believed that “doing art” was somewhat of a family tradition and something to be admired. My childhood doodles became sketches when I was a teenager and eventually, in my twenties, became oil paintings and watercolors.

In 1995 my wife Lisa and I started our family in Garnet Valley, where we live today. The area serves as a setting for much of my work. In the early 2000’s I rediscovered a set of pastels that were a fifth grade Christmas present from my parents. After retiring from a 40-year career teaching physics at Strath Haven High School, I became hooked on pastels and became a pastel artist. I have had the good fortune to study with artists Karl Kuerner since 1992 and Jane Bartrum Miluski and Joe Sweeney (no relation) since 2013.

Awards and Recognitions
Maryland Pastel Society "Shades of Pastel 2025" Exhibition Best Still Life Award
Pastel Society of America Signature Member Status 2025
Philadelphia Pastel Society Members Show 2025 Honorable Mention
International Association of Pastel Societies Master Pastelist Designation 2025
Award of Merit, Philadelphia Watercolor Society's 2024 Members Show
Best Pastel, Images 2023 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Judge of March "Get Dusty" Competition for Pastel Guild of Europe
CPS Award, Maryland Pastel Society "The Language of Pastel" Members Juried Exhibition 2023
Honorable Mention, Philadelphia Watercolor Society Onlime Members Show 2023
Invited Artist of Art in Embassies Program of U.S. State Department
Best Plein Air Pastel, 12th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition for July 2022
Crest Medal Award for Consistent Excellence in Philadelphia Watercolor Society Exhibitions
Don Patterson Award, 121st Anniversary International Exhibition of Works on Paper, Philadelphia Water Color Society
Best Pastel, Images 2021 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Best Pastel, 10th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition for September 2020
Best Pastel, 10th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition for August 2020
Best Pastel, Images 2020 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Best Pastel, Images 2019 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Elizabeth Shober Hooper Memorial Award for Excellence in Presentation and Technique (2nd Place) Philadelphia Watercolor Society’s 118th Anniversary International Exhibition of Works on Paper
Charles Bellows Memorial Award (11th Place) Philadelphia Watercolor Society’s 116th Anniversary International Exhibition of Works on Paper



Memberships
Philadelphia Pastel Society, Signature Member
Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Signature Member
Maryland Pastel Society, Signature Member
Pastel Society of America, Signature Member
International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle