The "Phelps Process" - In 2008 I set out to first capture the eyes, then the souls of all who view my art. I want to harness my entire skill set to create amazingly colorful, soul-capturing paintings.

I strive to transport my viewers to the wonderfully colorful world in my mind.

I want to be the best. In order to be the best you have to show the world something not only amazing, but brand new.

I spent two months researching all of the ideas running thru my head. My brainstorm overwhealmed me to the point of sleeplessness.

I had several criteria for my new process:

• Maintain the artistic style or voice that I had already developed
  
• My early work employed a traditional painting process, parts of which I found very tedious. I had to find a way to eliminate the tediousness and make the entire process fun. The more fun I have, the more passion translates to the canvas
  
• Increase the quality and appeal of my work, but at the same time, increase my productivity
  
• Use my unique skill set to invent a brand new artistic process
  
• The process had to be green, or eco-friendly

I picked the brains of all who would listen. Most thought that I was crazy, "No one's ever tried anything like that," "it will never work." Though all doubted my ideas, most offered any suggestions they could. I learned what I could from each and started ordering equipment and materials.

During the agonizing wait for all of the equiptment and materials to arrive, I became discouraged. I let all of the "nay sayers" get me down. I started to believe them; maybe I was crazy, maybe I was wasting my time, not to mention a lot of money. One night I was surfing the internet, desperately searching for any sign that my ideas were sound; that this craziness might actually work. That was when I found a small article on Hercules Seghers. Seghers was a European artist in the early 1600's, he played a vital role in the revival and advancement of etching, printmaking, and painting. Seghers is a little known figure in art history, but his printmaking skill and painting compositions inspired Rembrandt's career, style, mediums and techniques. (Email me if you want to learn more about Hercules Seghers). Anyway, back to the story.

Halfway thru the article on Seghers I discovered that 400 years ago this innovator (who was called crazy in his day) had the same artistic ideas that consumed my mind. Seghers developed a similar process to the one I had invented. I WAS NOT CRAZY, IT WOULD WORK!

Now, I am not using the exact process that Seghers tried to popularize, but many of the same fundamental ideas are there. The "Phelps process" is completely unique. I am the only artist in the world who has mastered and combined the artistic disciplines of: photography, drawing, digital manipulation, relief Solarplate printmaking and painting (oil, acrylic and watercolor techniques are all part of the process).

If you want to discover the secrets of the Phelps process, please read on: