My main influences include the fauves, the German expressionists and the Bay Area figurative painters. I am concerned with color, light, composition and the viscosity of oil paint.
I was born in the small Dutch Colonial town of Kinderhook, New York. Which is about 100 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. It is Washington Irving country and the location of famous stories like the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman, and Rip Van Winkle. I've always been enthralled with art and history. I graduated from Ichabod Crane High School in 1990. Under the guidance of my high school art teacher, John King, I went to college to study art. I chose a small private art school in Southern Maine, the Maine College of Art. Here I studied painting and the fundamentals of design. I also studied theories in art and art history.
In 1995 I moved to California. Over my eleven year stay, I showed in a few galleries, many nightlife venues and painted several murals and commissions. I also worked extensively in the nightlife industry and drew from that for subject matter for my paintings. I promoted events that included art shows and live music in some unique locations in SF. The city was a great inspiration, with its beautiful views and dramatic skyline. Despite all this fun, in 2006 I decided to move back to Up State New York and be closer to my family.
2007 proved to be a turning point for me. I began the year painting and drawing quite a bit, still living in Kinderhook, New York. I painted throughout the year, completing at least five works and several drawings. I moved to Albany, New York and began Cirque de la Nocturne. I couldn't stay away from special events. To learn more about it visit myspace.com/cirquevienocturne. It is a nightclub dance party with artful dance performances that occurr in two sets. The sets happen in the beginning of the night and in the middle. They last about an hour and include performances from a burlesque dancer, ballerina, belly dancer and gymnast, while the Dj spins dance music. Our next shows are going to include other types of performers, including rock and roll, tango, tap and Hip Hop.
Children of Production is the umbrella for all that I do. Cirque de la Nocturne is at the heart of it with fine art. I have organized three art auctions for the UAG with their help. My performers, Larissa Diaz, Emma Nagasawa, and Emily Krontiris were joined by Tango dancers, swing dancers and break dancers over the three events. This summer, 2008, we will have a Lounge act at Envy starring Larissa Diaz. The evening will include Larissa's beautiful performance and singing as well as a ride on the Aqua Ducks, a anfibious vehicle that will pick up the guests for a splash down in the river. All included with dinner at Envy. I am also beginning to plan a super art show/performance/dance party for next fall called "Unified".
I am working on two paintings now that will be up on the site soon, they are both figurative. A city scape is also in the works.
Education and Training
1990-1994 Maine College of Art, Portland Maine
- BFA in painting, selected student speaker at graduation.
- Focus in oil painting, art history and theory, color theory, drawing.
1998-1999 New Horizons Computer Training, Walnut Creek, CA.
- Advanced HTML, Advanced PhotoShop, Illustrator, Quark Express.
2004 California College of the Arts
- Extended Education- advanced oil painting.
Exhibitions/ Murals/ Commissions
1994 Show of paintings, Portland Chamber of Commerce, Portland Me.
1994 Mural, 10'X12', Zootz Nightclub, Portland Maine
1994 Commission, Gritty McDuff's Brewpub, Portland, Maine
1994 Show of paintings, Clapp House, MeCA, Portland, Maine
1995 Commission, Dean George Smith, Maine College of Art, Portland Me.
1995 Juried Alumni Show, Moser Gallery, Madison Ave, NYC
1996 Show of paintings, The Hand Gallery, Post Street, San Francisco, Ca.
1997 Show of paintings, The Seventh Note Night Club, San Francisco, Ca.
1998 Installation, Tango Grille, North Beach, San Francisco, Ca.
1999 Private Commission, 2'X4' oil on canvas, San Francisco, Ca.
2000 Show of paintings, Popolo Restaurant, San Francisco, Ca.
2001 Installation, 5'X7', oil on canvas, The Velvet, San Francisco, Ca.
2002 Viv, Emerging Artist Show, San Francisco, Ca.
2003 Show of paintings, Popolo Restaurant, San Francisco, Ca.
2003 Show of paintings, XYZ, Hotel W, San Francisco, Ca.
2003-2004 Mural 8'X10', DJ Dimitris Mykonos Studio, Mt.View, CA.
2004 Staff Exhibit, California College of Art, Oakland, Ca.
2004 Private Commission, small oil on canvas, Bernal Heights, SF, CA.
2004 Group Show, Studio Z, Silent Auction, San Francisco, Ca.
2005 Group Show, ArtSF, Say What!?, San Francisco, Ca.
2005 Group Show, ArtSF, Undertones, San Francisco, Ca.
2006 Mara's Salon, Hayse Valley, SF.
2006 Backstage Gallery, Russian Hill, SF.
2006 CCCA Riders Mills Art Exhibition, Chatham, New York
2007 Private Commision, Robert Gibson, Albany, New York
2007 Hudson Arts Walk, Warren Street, Hudson, New York
2007 September, October, December, Cirque de la Nocturne, Albany, New York
2008 February, Upstate Artist Guild Benefit Performance of Cirque de la Nocturne and Silent Auction of UAG Paintings, Envy Lounge, Albany, New York.
2008 April, Upstate Artist Guild Benefit Performance of Cirque de la
Nocturne and Silent Auction of UAG Paintings, Envy Lounge, Albany, New
York.
Volunteer Work
2002 Precita Eyes, San Francisco
- Helped kids in the Mission District make paintings.
2003 Charles Campbell Gallery, San Francisco
- Assisted with set up gallery in the San Francisco International Art Expo.
2004-2005 CCA Communications Department, San Francisco
- San Francisco International Art Expo college representative.
- Answered phones for KQED pledge drive for SPARK.
2008 Upstate Artist Guild Fundraisers, February 28th, April 24th and May 29th
- Produced Silent Art Auctions and performances to benefit UAG at Envy Lounge, Albany, NY.
Non-Art Related Work
2006-2008, The Albany Pump Station, Albany, New York
- Bartender in high volume restaurant and brewpub.
2007-2008 The Pearl Restaurant and Lounge, Albany, New York
- Bartender in a high volume nightclub.
2007 Envy Lounge, Albany, New York
- Bartender in a high volume nightclub.
1997-2006, The Velvet Lounge, San Francisco
- Head Bartender/Bar Manager in a high volume nightclub.
- Developed and managed www.thevelvetlounge.com, writing the HTML and producing all written and visual content.
2005 San Francisco School of Bartending
- Instructor for intense bartending course, certifying new bartenders.
2005 Vesuvio's Bar and Cafe
- Bartender
2002-2003 AT&T Wireless
-Marketing and sales representative.
2003-2005 Elevate Parties
- Cofounded and produced all intellectual property.
- Promoted events in public and private venues using the Internet and flyers.
- Organized DJs, live bands, bartenders and security teams.
2004 Azul Nightclub/Bar, San Francisco
- Bartender.
2003-2004 Gravity Nightclub/Bar, San Francisco
- Bartender.
1996-2004 PM Design Group, San Francisco
-Sales person, bringing in two years worth of steady work for a team of eight carpenters.
- Remodeled homes, nightclubs, restaurants and commercial properties.
- Painted exteriors and interiors of both residential and commercial properties.
- Developed fun multimedia experiments at my Elevate Parties, including digital projections, radio style interview shows and interactive audio video interviews.
1999-2001, Vice President of Sales, Promotional Director Nightlifewatch.com/Granicus.com
-Assisted with web development creating ideas for the lay out and structure of the web site. The web site was a place to go and visit for information on nightclubs. One could see live audio and video feeds of what was happening in the club.
- Developed marketing plans, sales strategies and relationships with corporate sponsors.
- Organized promotional events that included streaming audio and video.
1995-1997 Frankie's Bohemian, San Francisco
- Head Bartender.
1993-1995 Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub, Portland, Maine
- Bartender, waiter, doorman.
1993-1995 Zootz Nightclub, Portland, Maine
- Head Doorman.
1989-1992 Dutch Apple Cruise Lines, Port of Albany, Hudson River, New York
- Deckhand/barback.
Interests
1983- 2008 Judo Player, Shodan(1st degree black belt)
- First Place American Canadian Internationals.
- First Place East Coast High School Championship.
- Second Place United States Judo Association Nationals.
- Third Place Empire State Games Senior Open Division.
- First Place Northern California Invitational.
Conversational Spanish
