Biography

I was raised in Northern California and went to college at the University of California Santa Barbara receiving a degree in Psychology with an emphasis in abnormal behavior. I took a part-time job during the summer of his freshman year working at a school for the disabled. I was so inspired by people with disabilities that I took on a career in social services. My unique vision and humor comes from the work that he did working to release patients from institutions.

Working with the Kennedy family in 1991, I started Best Buddies, a non-profit organization helping handicapped teens create friendships with college students. The University of California Santa Barbara adopted Best Buddies as an official university organization in 1993 where it still exists today serving as many as 40 people each year.

Afterwards, I studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. I received a fellowship from the Shepard Foundation granting a full scholarship to the university and finishing with a degree in Illustration.

I began teaching at the Oxbow School in 2004. The school piloted a Special Effects summer session in 2004. My students there have inspired me to create Apaintingaweek.com... and to paint every day.

I am currently working from my studio in Sausalito, California