Queens, New York, Bayside High School to Syracuse University, majoring in comparative theology and fine arts, law school in San Francisco, and Southern California since then.
I doodle…a lot!
Studied abroad in Florence, Italy, loved learning all the Catholic art icons and how the art was how the Church taught it's stories. It was the symbols in the pictures that identified the subject and unlocked the story.
I colored in coloring books like crazy!
I loved studying about American Indians and totem poles…very cool how they depicted the spirits, one on top of the other, on a log.
I whittled a lot as a kid.
I started carving poles and figured out how to visualize images by eliminating the negative. I carved and learned. Upon discovering my son’s sketchbook, he taught me to focus on the asymmetry of faces, which helps create attitude. I carve poles for friends and family, figuring out what characters and icons best told their stories. I love the interview process to finding out secrets that can be subtly depicted on the poles, together with characters or representations that have special meaning to them… thus creating an object that tells a very personal story.
For 35 years, my goal has been to create pieces of art that make people smile.
I do not sell them so they remain priceless and I avoid the risk that money will screw things up. I love making things that create a permanent connection between us. I love that it reminds others of me. I love hearing that the totem poles generate interest from their friends. Depicting other people’s icons also has gotten me out of my head and into other peoples!
I hope that they make you smile.
Oh, yeah…Saladface. The Rooster (Supreme Giver of Nicknames) came up with the nickname in 1969 and as only he could make happen, it stuck!