ARTISTS STATEMENT

My work breaks free from everyday reality, pulling you into dreamy worlds of imagination and reflection. My intention is for my paintings to whisk you away to different places and times, capturing those deep emotions and vivid memories from your own life. 

Inspired by my love for travel through the western states, my pieces aren't just straight-up landscapes—they're like windows into specific feelings. I even think about the ambient sounds and scents that make a moment special, blending them with the visuals, so when you look at my work, it might spark memories of your own cherished times. My art is all about the human condition—it's like a heartfelt chat through colors and shapes that stir up emotions we all share. Each piece feels like a doorway where your thoughts mix with feelings, and the invisible stuff comes to life. I play with bold, lively colors to bring my canvases alive, from peaceful cool blues that calm you down to fiery reds that get your heart racing. Texture is a big deal too; I love how acrylics let me create varied surfaces that add real depth. It's like inviting you to touch and explore the layers, turning a simple look into a full-on sensory adventure. 

By stepping outside the usual, I want to spark conversations, tug at your heartstrings, and light up that endless spark in all of us.

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Spokane, Washington, the artist draws early inspiration from his grandfather, Luther Essick—a versatile practitioner of visual art, acting, music, photography, and interior design. After studying fine art at the Rocky Mountain School of Art in Denver (now Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design), he spent two decades in Seattle as a graphic designer, illustrator, and later art director. 

Seeking deeper fulfillment, he returned fully to painting two decades ago, developing a distinctive style through what he calls the “creative conduit.” He has since balanced this studio practice with performing arts, appearing in television commercials and films. 

His work has been featured in more than 70 solo and group exhibitions across the western United States and the East Coast, including multiple shows at the Northwest Museum of Contemporary Arts in Spokane. Galleries in Laguna Beach and Palm Desert (CA), Boston, Seattle, Bellevue, La Conner and Spokane (WA), Sun Valley, Coeur d’Alene and McCall (ID), Alaska, Lancaster (WI), Cannon Beach (OR), and Gainesville (FL) have presented his paintings. 

Well over a thousand of his works reside in private and public collections worldwide. He lives and works on a small farm in Hobart, Washington, with his family.