About CMJ Art

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Kansas City, Missouri

Professional Artist

As early as I can remember, I remember my father painting. In the home I grew up in, he used to have his studio in a large sun room radiating  of sunlight and all the windows you can imagine to beam it’s shine across the ceiling and it would warm the wood floor.  I often would sit upon that floor and watch him, as he created his private masterpieces. Of course, he held a typical 8-5 day job but when he arrived home, he would set down his briefcase to pick up a brush in one gesture. The smell of turpentine, as he is an oil painter, would often linger in the room and has always consequentially brought me back to these days quite effortlessly whenever I smell it. His good friend, the late artist Bob Byerly, once said :  “When attempting to paint something new, like an eye, go to an art museum, and look closely at eyes, stare, without a single thought. He went on to suggest the brain learns at a greater capacity than conscious thought. To simply observe, in this way, you are learning.” I believe what he said and I understand that watching my father paint in my youth was my first inspiration and my first lessons.