original art to stimulate the mind
ABOUT THE ARTIST For as long as I can remember I have always had an aptitude for art and creative endeavors. Modern and contemporary art as well as mid-century architecture has always stirred something deep within my soul.
My grandmother always encouraged and nurtured my artistic interest. She was herself an accomplished artist working in mosaics later in her life for which she won significant local and regional recognition.
My first organized education in art started in High School for which my work was singled out for recognition. I continued my art education in
college but only as a minor student choosing to focus on business and legal studies.
After college, being a third generation San Franciscan, I found myself in the middle of the very creative period of the late 60’s in San Francisco. It seemed for a period of time anything creative was exploding out of San Francisco. I began initially exploring poster and album art for many of the local Bay Area Bands.
My love of music and art eventually morphed into my exercising my business acumen and began theatrical management which then rolled into the development of a recording studio (Freeway Recording), a production Company and a Music Publishing entity.
After leaving the Music industry in the late 70’s, I started building, designing and remodeling mid-century residential properties. This eventually led to a career in real estate.
After a very short period of time, I moved into management and executive responsibilities. In 1986, I moved to Southern California where I became the Marketing Director for Merrill Lynch Really representing the western United States. Eventually I became a partner in Prudential California Realty with over 150 office in California ranging from the Lake Tahoe region to San Diego. Eventually, we sold to Coldwell Banker in 1997. I was the only partner to stay on after the sale and eventually I retired in 2019 as President and COO of Coldwell Banker Greater Los Angeles with offices from Santa Barbara to Long Beach after a long and successful career.
During this period I continued with some limited painting, primarily for my own amusement or upon a request or inspiration. After retirement I once again began painting in earnest and have accumulated a nice body of work.
ARTIST'S INSPIRATION I have been asked what inspires my work. There is no simple answer to that question. Many things inspire me, nature, colors, other artists even architecture.
I once heard Paul McCarthy as well as other composers of music say that they do not know where the inspiration comes from, it just pops into their heads. I must say that is how it is for me. Many times a concept or technique will pop into my head.
A few years ago a concept came to me to paint with string. I jumped into the process and I liked the result. When I was finished I was told that I had channeled Jackson
Pollock. The funny thing is that I was not even conscious of Pollock’s work at the time.
Many times I will start with a concept but the painting actually paints itself. I typically start with a base and build upon the base layer upon layer. As the painting takes shape it gets me excited and evokes emotions inside me.
I get the same feeling when I see great architecture or someone else’s work that I like or even a song or music that touches my soul.
When the work is done I really don’t know what I have created until I step back take a long look and attempt to name it. Just as the original concept the name pops into my head. I think it comes from how the painting touches me.
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