Brief History

Cornish Painting Studio with Greenhouse, 1973.

Art Education

By the standards of the time and place, my art education was unconventional. I wanted to study painting and printmaking and the west coast drew me as a new way to explore. I left the east coast at eighteen and headed to the Northwest moving to Seattle in 1972. I went to the Cornish School of Allied Arts (now called the Cornish Institute) for one and a half years and then set up my own studio in the city. At the time, I didn’t think school was the best environment for me to learn about art. But Cornish was an unconventional place; really more a collection of students, artists, teachers and eccentrics. It was perfect for me. Later, I moved to Bainbridge Island and had a studio in an Odd Fellows Hall.

Move to Los Angeles

By 1978 I wanted to be in a more active art environment. I moved to Los Angeles and found a studio in Culver City. The art world at that time was a more intimate place; people at openings knew each other – it was a community. Later, I moved downtown and was part of that early art scene. I had a show at LACE and there was a lot of energy going on there. As a way to make money, I began working for Chris Rosmini an extraordinary garden designer. I dug holes, planted and helped with the plans; whatever needed doing.

Eccentric Hedges Flyer (1991) - each one was a photograph, hand stamped

Studios Past

Suquamish, WA. Studio 1974-1975

This studio was on an Indian Reservation - a friend’s outbuilding that I rented.

Suquamish, WA. Studio 1974-1975

Oddsfellow - Bainbridge Island 1975-1978

I lived and worked on the second and third floor.

Oddsfellow - Bainbridge Island 1975-1978

Wall Street Studio, Downtown

This studio was downtown in the produce section. I could look out the window and sometimes see melons covering the alley.

Union Street Studio, Downtown 1980s

Landscape Design Career

Eventually, I started a landscape design business that evolved into a Design/Build business. The world of landscape design was remarkably satisfying. A world that brings to together creative design by using plants instead of paint; gardens, unlike paintings can be walked through.

Return to Painting

My experience as a landscape designer brought me closer to nature in a particular way and I am grateful for that. I am also relieved to be painting again. It is a curious experience to start after this passage of time; some aspects are familiar and other parts unknown.