An emerging artist, Gus is an Illinois native from the heart of the American Midwest. He traveled extensively during his twenty-eight years in the U.S. Navy and learned from Charles Kello and Kenneth Bain in the seaport town of Norfolk, Virginia, Rameer Tawasil in the Philippines, and Timothy Brooke in Kenya. Their intuitive use of negative space, line, color, and light continue to influence Gus’s interpretation of his personal experiences across the United States, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

"I typically work from images that I’ve captured somewhere along the way and there is a story, a moment or an experience behind each piece. At times an archival photograph might inspire a work for a friend or inspiration may come for something a bit graphic or abstract. I am however most interested in creating compelling images of our daily human experience.

When it works, a painting will encourage us to engage. A good painting will involve us in its story and invite the participation of our imagination, memory and emotion. I hope these paintings can reveal the simple visual appeal found in the passing moments of daily life and convey the intrinsic value of empathizing with the everyday lives of our fellow humans."

Gus