I was born in New York City, where I reside now, and ever since I can remember I’ve thought of himself as an artist. As much as anything else, it was a form of play. Whatever interested me, to draw it was to be a part of it. A cowboy, a secret agent, a super hero or a Beatle and monsters! Vocational make believe.

 

Eventually, around high school, after a little time on the drums, the guitar took hold, especially the electric guitar in all its wonderful variety. Over the years, time in two bands ensued “The Hitites” and “Bikini Machine”. Rock on!

 

After High School, it was off to Parsons School of Design in New York City, which made for a very stimulating campus. The museums, the clubs, the repertory cinemas, the Rolling Stones performing on a flat bed truck, just down the street from Parsons, Salvatore Dali strolling up Fifth Avenue. And the friends I made then are friends still.

 

A hobby of mine, for which these days there is no time, has been the assembling and painting of models, old Aurora monsters, different members of the Rat Fink family and figure kits from Japan and elsewhere. These are beautifully sculpted versions of the old Universal monsters, the fabulous cheesy fifties classics (It!), various Godzillas, etc. It’s painting them to life, that’s what it’s all about. And what I’ve learned painting here I’ve applied elsewhere.

As to my artwork, in terms of assignments, I am as serious as needed (Hello Abe Lincoln!) but given my druthers, I lean towards the humorous/fantastic. And there is still the aspect of being a part of or owning what interests you by incorporating it into your work. If I can’t own a Les Paul TV (guitar), I can still put it in a piece. And Venice is mine!

 

My current favorite piece is “Batman and Mary”, based on a photograph taken of my sister and me at three and five, in 1960. It was my gift to her on her 50th birthday. We wouldn’t be playing Batman and Robin for another six years, but that’s what my artistic license is for.