These paintings can be appreciated on many levels. To the casual viewer, there is a fascination with the fact that the work appears photographic at fifteen feet away, while at two feet it is a complex arrangement of large strokes of the trowel. To those who have an appreciation of the natural world, there is a purity in the subject, which denies all references to human interference. Adventurers enjoy the fact that nearly all of the work is created on location. Art historians appreciate his references to impressionism, nineteenth century realism, and twentieth century abstract expressionism. Contemporary theorists enjoy the relevance of the work as it relates to recent discussions about the nature of reality and place, as well as, the tension between surface and illusion. Natives of Appalachia experience a strong jolt of memory. Nearly everyone who has walked on a hillside or stood in a wooded grove can hear, smell, and feel the place where the artist stood.
-Jennifer Hall Boggess
Professor Emeritus, Fairmont State University