I was born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, the home of the Blues. I considered submitting to the alchemy of life in the art world while spending a college year abroad in France - adrift and borne of experiencing life rather than hitting the books. A sliver of destiny came unearthed in oil amid the lavender fields of Aix-en-Provence, in the shadow of Cezanne. A career in fine art seemed a nebulous prospect, and after a period of frustration my sage-like instructor suggested illustration, which was more my style. Life guides us through instinct and signs. We follow those signs for better or worse but knowing our hearts and the cosmos told us so. Returning to the States I enrolled at The Art Institute of Boston. Style and commitment has evolved over the years - it takes time. Also patience, constant learning and thick skin.

Art which inspires me seems to break through the layers of muck and grab my soul, as it is with color, form, imagination and enchantment. I go through phases: the ladies and lines of Art Nouveau, the form and charisma of art deco architecture; the High Renaissance in Italy and northern Europe. Sargent is the most sensual and stunning portrait artists of all time. I get inspired looking all over, at photography and other artists.

For illustrators, there is the work of Arthur Rackham, Chris Van Allsburg, Greg Hildebrandt, NC Wyeth and of course Norman Rockwell. The latter two probably because of their depiction of scenes from a narrative, either from life or fiction. Not to mention their arresting and masterful technique. Howard Pyle is simply amazing, with brilliant color schemes: deep and neutral earth tones against stunning primaries, giving his work a luxurious, poignant feel. Aside from the popularized calender, and on closer inspection, the glazing techniques of Maxfield Parrish are exquisite. This is a little hard to replicate digitally because light is meant to pass through the transparency, but it still creates a gentle mood.

I also love the field of concept design for film - pre-production art. As a child of the Star Wars era I have had a soft spot for sci-fi. My mother says the first thing I ever drew was Darth Vader - hey, I was 5. Concept art demands fundamentals: composition, value, lighting, mood, and strong drawing with great skill and consistency. I highly respect the work of many pre-production film illustrators and designers, where imagination is king and technique is loose.

Currently residing in Boulder Colorado, and I certainly can't complain about that.