- Plein air paintings. I use these for color reference and inspiration for larger works. They’re an invaluable tool that informs my studio work much more accurately than photos do.
- Works in progress. I always like to keep paintings around for a little while before I release them on to the market. Often, a painting needs to go another round when I notice something that needs changing days later that wasn’t apparent to me when I first painted it.
- My old French easel. This was the first easel I ever owned, and I use it now for drawing. I keep at least one drawing going at all times, either in charcoal or pencil. The chair is a find from a flea market in Metz, France.
- My sketchbook. I draw every day, both to keep up my accuracy in drawing and to compose ideas. I keep my sketchbook close by when I’m working on a painting to refer back to my compositional sketches and notes about the painting concept.
- My Hughes easel. It’s the best easel on the market and definitely worth the investment. Its counterbalance system allows me to work on large paintings easily, moving them with just the touch of a hand instead of having to stop to crank the painting into place or stand on my toes to reach the top of the canvas.
- Rembrandt paints. I have used a limited palette of six colors for just about every painting I’ve done since about 2006. I love the consistency of the paint and harmony the limited palette automatically creates.
- My dogs. I always have at least one dog around me all the time, but usually both of them are wondering what I’m up to and when they’ll get to go for a walk! —