Even as a little boy, I remember being visually fascinated by the world around me, and I was facinated by photography as far back as the 2nd grade in elemntary school. It was only after college that I decided to get serious about photography and pursue it as a career. So, after getting a second degree at the Brooks Institute, I spent about ten years doing commercial work. It was kind of like a graduate school in lighting, composition and working under pressure.
By the late 80's, I fell in love with Renaissance portraiture. I started to create portraits simply for the challenge, and was (quite frankly) stunned at how quickly I started winning awards. I started receiving invitations to lecture internationally. In 1990 I gave up commercial work altogether to focus entirely on portraits and we relocated to more spacious studios. In 1995, I was honored to be inducted into the elite 40-member Cameracraftsmen of America.
Life has been pretty crazy for the last few years. In 2006, I helped co-found the International Society of Portrait Artists, ISOFPA.com. In 2007, we opened a second gallery in Costa Mesa, California, and earlier in 2009, we moved to an amazing location studio situated on a half acre of beautiful gardens.
I have continued to create the elegant portraits that I've loved for decades, and now am able to achieve a style that I've dreamed of for years. Together with my wife April, we are now creating painted portraits both outdoors and in the homes of our clients from Montecito to Newport Coast. I'm humbled by the people who have trusted me to create their portraits: filmmakers, fellow artists, and those who simply appreciate what we do. In many ways, I live a charmed life.
But there is an even bigger story to my creative life. Though I love creating beautiful images, that creative energy serves to remind me about my own Creator. God's beauty is seen in His amazing creation and in the life He modeled for us here on earth, especially the way He serves others. It's helped me to see the life-changing results in seemingly small things, like making Christmas dinner for deaf Mexican children, collaborating on Sacredink.net and going to distant lands to bring the hope of God's love to hurting people.
The God story is bigger than all my work, and it's only through His grace and vision that I've been able to create the work I love to do.
