In 2008, I began a new series of paintings depicting American wind farms, inspired by 17th century Dutch landscapes. These turbine paintings have brought me to a more traditional engagement with art history, while simultaneously giving me a subject to paint that is both modern and contemporary. These recent paintings are all steeped in direct observation of actual sites. I begin with travel, roadside sketching and drawing. These initial scratchings are worked up into watercolor studies, many also completed on site. From there, the paintings are completed over subsequent weeks and months in my Chicago studio.