Artist's Statement
I believe creativity is a journey with no end. I seek to create memorable and unique images, using color, shape, texture and spacial relationships to capture a mood, moment or feeling. I often use juxtaposition, unusual techniques, tones and surface treatments to invite the viewer into the process and discover new aspects of the work over time. My work has been described as bold, impactful and elegant. The goal is to create pictures in my own unique visual voice that to speak to me and hopefully others as well.
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My work pays homage to the many great artists whose work I love, but that is only the beginning. I find inspiration in every aspect of my life. I look for ideas in nature, my family, towns and cities, objects, food, and people doing every day activities. Even the music we hear, the words we read, the experiences we have, what we dream and imagine all spark insights and directions. To be an artist, you must open your eyes and mind. In order to draw and paint, you must first see.
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I started my artistic journey as I do with most things that matter—full of passion. Honestly, it’s almost all consuming. As Frida Kahlo said: “ I paint because I need to”. I am constantly learning, seeing, imagining, trying, and sometimes failing, but always moving forward.
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Some have asked me which of my paintings is my favorite. The answer is always the one I’m about to start. There is nothing scarier than an empty page in your sketchbook, or a blank canvas. But, also nothing more exciting. With each work, I find endless possibilities and a chance to surprise even myself.
My Story
I started my career as a photographer, then evolved into design, art direction, writing, creative direction, strategy and finally agency management. I have over 30 years of experience in the advertising industry creating successful strategic marketing initiatives, as well as creative advertising and brand development campaigns, for such notables as Pergo Flooring, Skoal, American Institute of Architects, Astral Cigars, Lightolier, GE, Contel, Simon & Schuster, Construction Specialties, Reader’s Digest, Rubbermaid, International Paper Company, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope and many others.
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I have won hundreds of national and international awards, as well as several gold medals, for creativity and effectiveness including ADDY, Creativity Gold, Print’s Best and Print Editor’s Choice, HOW, Graphic Design USA, New Jersey Advertising Club Best of Show, Art Directors Club of New Jersey Best of Show, Graphis and the McGraw-Hill Advertising Role Model Award. My work has also appeared in editorial features in Communication Arts (CA), Creativity, Print and Step-By-Step Graphics as well as Minimal Graphics and the Big Book of Color.
In 2012, I was inducted into the New Jersey Advertising Hall of Fame.
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I am a frequent speaker on topics related to the creative process, leadership, marketing and branding. I have appeared before numerous industry and academic groups, seminars and corporate convocations.
I am an alumnus of Seton Hall University, where I majored in philosophy, and the School of Visual Arts, where I studied under renowned designer Milton Glaser.