I grew up in a small neighborhood in Germantown which is a section of Philadelphia. The first person to give me art instructions was my father. I have found memories of sitting on his lap as he would draw characters from the daily newspaper’s cartoon sections. He often chose those images for my entertainment and perhaps a little for his own as well. Soon my time with my father would be over. He died suddenly from a heart attack the day after Thanksgiving when I was eight years old. After his passing I found myself retreating into an imaginary world where I could create characters which spoke to me. I of course created these characters on paper.

Soon the schools I attended discovered I had an ability with artist materials and before long I was asked to create several bulletin board installations for the school’s hallways. I realized art was great for my self esteem. I went on to make art for the school newspaper and school posters. I was a shy child and art was empowering not only for me but for others.

I went to art school. I attended University of the Arts in Philadelphia and graduated with a BFA in Painting. From there I moved to New York to continue my studies in a graduate program at School of the Visual Arts but soon found I was not prepared for the financial elements needed to continue.

I began to find work in numerous art related jobs. I worked in feature films, commercials for television, assistant to photographers, a sometime model for photographers and artist, visual merchandising to name a few.

One day something magical happen. I became an assistant to the legendary jazz musician Miles Davis. I travelled the world with him as his personal assistant for five years. In the midst of all this I stopped making art. I was consumed with this new life. It took over. The beauty of my new job was helping Miles to achieve his goals in becoming a painter. He literally would draw and paint everyday on the road and at home. I would assist him in buying his supplies and setting him up to paint after his performances. Sometimes he would begin working at two o’clock in the morning after a performance. It was Miles who brought me back to art. He insisted I begin making art again. I resisted at first because I thought I was not able with the constant moving around to create anything worthy. What I found was with practice and focus I could create on the road. The world became my studio. This is the influences seen in my work. It’s a world beat influence. It’s a hybrid juxtaposition of influences from around the globe.

Miles eventually became a collector of my work. He introduced me to others who have collected my work through the years. It has been a glorious road for me. Miles has passed on. I will never forget him like my father. In a strange way my father introduced me to art and then Miles came along to reintroduce me to art as a viable and necessary element needed in all of our lives. I will continue the legacy throughout my life. I have passed it on to my daughter and hopefully she will pass it on to others as well. Now I have work which has been published in many magazines and several books.

I have shown in many national and international shows. I have worked as an illustrator for numerous publications and I have had many commissions from private art patrons. My life has been rich and I am very grateful to the many angels who have come along to lead me through to the next phase of this magical existence.