I’m so happy to be here

Original oil, oil pen, pencil on panel 
36 by 36 on panel 
$6000
 
“I’m So Happy to Be Here” is the title of my first painting of 2026. This year marks a turning point in my work, as I begin combining all of my styles across multiple mediums into a single, cohesive language.
My artistic journey began early—constantly doodling with pencil in class—then evolved into ink sketches on paper. At eighteen, I discovered oil painting, a medium I’ve worked with for the past thirty years. Each phase has shaped the way I see, think, and tell stories visually.
Over the coming months, I will be experimenting with these mediums on some paintings —pencil, ink, and oil—within each piece to create layered, narrative-driven works. For me it’s a little bit different  from painting singular images or landscapes; instead, each painting will tell a story. The work is more contemporary in nature, rooted in memories of childhood and the places that have shaped us most.
The first painting in this series had to begin with the place that means the most to me: Tahoe. I’ve been developing this style my entire life, and for the first time, it truly feels like everything has come together. This work represents a breakthrough—a moment where experience, memory, and medium finally align.