I grew up in the great north woods of New York, with a pencil in my hand. My father inspired me to draw, I actually did a drawing exercise daily at 4 or 5 years old. Having early success I kept at it, through the "erase & redo" phase. I was doing "good likeness" pencil portraits by age 12. I think I drew every motorcycle in existence.

At 20 I moved to Santa Barbara, lived in a Tipi (18 ft). I did etching, while there became a Christian.

In 1982 I trained for and got work in Technical Illustration, (Back when they used technical pens.) I also illustrated three books while starting to develop a painting portfolio of full color renderings. I intended to work in an art department of an aircraft company.

We took a break to do missionary work, which didn't work out. Consequentially I ended up back in New York where I took a job painting murals in outdoor advertising. I worked there for 10 years.

Following that I landed in the LA area where I eventually got work for a contractor doing murals and signs in public schools.

I now have my contractors license, insurance, bonds and am no longer "slaving for the man."

Artistically, I consider myself a "Ruskinite", I discovered the writings of John Ruskin "by chance" in a Kent Washington library in 1984. A copy of "The Elements of Drawing" (written in 1857) was lying flat on the end of a shelf and I casually grabbed it passing by not realizing how much this author would influence me.

Ruskin is not for cowards though, as he writes at a much higher grade level than most people read at today. I usually read & re-read in order to make sure I get it. I read legal language, so obviously he's a hard read. It's worth it though if you're an artist.

Do you want to be a better artist? Struggle through it! Read Ruskin!

Many of you who I've painted for through my previous employer will remember me as the guy with the purple truck. I got a few strange looks when first arriving at schools to do Sign/Mural work in my high miles '95 Nissan pick up, the truck and utility cap painted purple.

The truth is that I got the truck in a work trade New Years '02 for doing a Hawaii style over/under painting (whales, dolphins, tropical fish etc.) on the lunchroom wall of a Paper Company in City of Industry, CA. I worked 11 days, 130 hours and got the truck and $600.to boot.

It was owned by a lady sign painter who commissioned me the project. Eventually I did paint the truck before I sold it because I got a '98 Nissan with the same size bed so as to switch my utility cap/ladder rack to the new from the old truck- but the new truck was red..... So, I didn't want a purple utility cap on a red truck (and besides it would make the old truck sell easier) So, I painted them gray.

The cap (white) which came on the new truck was put on the old and I sold it to a pretty lady for $1700.00. You'll note in my School Graphics Bio some of the pictures of paintings have a red Nissan with a gray cap and rack in the picture.