Often I'm asked what inspires me to create such colorful and eclectic paintings. Living in the Bay Area for most of my life as well as having lived in the Philippines during my childhood, has afforded me an unlimited stream of seemingly ordinary subjects from which I can bring to life on canvas.

Most of my work explores the diverse culture, objects, neighborhoods and landscapes that I see around me on a daily basis. My paintings fuse these images together along with a bold palate and unique perspective to convey the strength and intensity of my subjects.

I have a deep affinity for old stuff - funky junk, rusty things, bits and pieces of detritus most often referred to by the uninitiated as "garbage" or "trash".  ( Ah! but therein lies the idiom! )  Often, If it speaks to my soul, I leave the tattered and threadbare unadorned... but mostly, I live to make things! -put a new spin on an old standard; uncover the 'art heart' of a found object, recycle and restyle timeworn finds.  I love to put paint to paper, walls, canvas and furniture. Color it in!  Embellish it up!  Strip it down!  Whee!  I'm drawn in particular to whimsical themes and the thrill of the unexpected.  Second-hand DOGS are likewise my passion. ( Is there is a more profoundly beautiful artistic tome than Berkeley Breathed's  "Flawed Dogs: The Year End Leftovers At the Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound" ? Not in my world, my friend! )  Canine "beauty in imperfection" can be found snoozing  in every stuffed chair and sunny spot at my home studio, The Sit and Stay Atelier.  My dogs are a constant source of inspiration, artistic and otherwise.  And should there ever be a shortage of shopworn chairs needing a make-over - the dogs will happily tatter to order.  The coffee's hot -c'mon over!

I create photograms: photographs that are made without the use of a camera. This 19th century process has an immediacy, rawness and truth that is not found in images created with a camera. I layer natural and man-made elements such as water, plants and rope on the surface of silver-based photographic paper. The paper is exposed to light from an enlarger to create a shadowy silhouette image. Then I lay myself and others on top of the photo paper and make another exposure, which results in a collage effect.

The end is near.

Papercutting is one of the oldest art forms, known to be traced back to around 105 AD, when paper was invented in China. My scissors drawings interweave multi-cultural stories of mythology and folk tradition. Earth, nature and it's deities, along with a long ribbon of myths are some of the resources I use in my themes. I like to give my work a modern but timeless appeal. Usually I go by its weight, texture and color, when I choose a paper. Like a sculptor, I envision the 3D aspect of the project, the artwork already within the paper. Texture and color have to correspond with the theme of the image. I work with paper, but at times, I use copper sheet as well. Over two decades ago, I started cutting little paper figures bookmarks, which quickly developed into much larger artwork. Papercutting is my passion!

I have been very fortunate to have been able to attend painting workshops all over the world.  During my many Open Studio experiences here in San Francisco one of the questions asked was "Why not stay here and capture this beautiful city".  As a commercial artist working with the real estate community I have actually drawn and or painted over 8,000 of San Francisco's most beutiful homes.  I am currently photographing many of the same homes and agree that this is indeed an incredible place to live and paint.  I am now looking to combine my passion for drawing and watercolor painting with my love for San Francisco,  my home now for 38 years.