Hello,

I assume that unless you got here by mistake, you'd like to learn a bit about me. I've been a professional artist with my own studio/gallery for over 10 years, though I've been shooting photographs for over 20 years. But my life hasn't always been about painting, drawing, and photography. In my other life, I helped build and then become part owner of an advertising agency over the course of 18 years. It was satisfying work and I loved the people I worked with, but there was always a creative piece that I wanted to explore. Like many of us, I was scared to risk what I had for a chance at what I really wanted to do with my life until two relatively coincidental opportunities presented themselves. The first was a chance to sell my interest in the business. The second was to take my budding drawing skills and apply them to oil portrait painting under the guidance of a Russian master painter, Leonid Gervits. I took a leap of faith, found out I could swim well enough not to drown, and haven't looked back.

So, I've learned that art can be scary, rewarding, an adventure, and always a journey to some other new level of creativity. I've learned how to do Polaroid transfers and now teach the process (see my workshops). I've photographed weddings in vineyards, on Hawaiian beaches, and in ancient churches in Italy. I've documented charity golf tournaments for professional golfer Ben Crane, and even taken talent photos for a Sarah Palin look-alike. I've done pencil portraits of kids, parents, grandparents, you name it and, over the past 10 years, a steady stream of commissioned oil portraits. I've been teaching annual workshops on oil portrait painting for the last 5 years. Finally, I've learned to print large scale photographs on my studio printer and frame them in the frame shop that I created. It's been a decade of reaching out to learn and stretch my creativity in every new avenue that I could find. It's been a wild and demanding ride and I've loved (most) every minute of it. I continue to pinch myself on a daily basis.

One of the things that keep the juices flowing is my portrait work. I live for the challenge of capturing a person's likeness in the centuries old style of portrait painting, and I am always looking to create the truest representation of the subject. I never leave a project until I am proud of the work and the client is happy with the end result. Delighting them and exceeding the expected is what brings me the most joy and keeps my clients coming back.

My gallery, in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon serves as a showcase for my work, is a working studio for both painting and studio photography, is a classroom space for private instruction and classes and is also a framing workshop. I work with master Framer Michael Kirk to design and implement framing solutions at affordable rates. Michael can frame anything. Finally the studio is available for rent for small events. Call or email me for details.

My year often encounters special projects. Keep an eye on the studio/gallery section of this website for photos and discussion on everything from what this year's Santa will look like to a recent wedding shoot in Italy or even a step-by-step look at a current painting in progress.

If you are in Portland feel free to stop by the gallery and see what's happening for yourself. Visitors are always welcome. I love to show and tell about my current and completed projects.

Please explore the website and email your comments and questions. It is all a work of art in progress