Reviews of ZEN on Honolulu Star Advertiser

Carlsbad Calendar 2005

www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us

People to Meet
Painter Celebrates the Ocean He Loves


We wanted to move from Chula Vista to Carlsbad for years. Now we have and love it here in Calavera Hills. We’re water people. We can walk to the lake; my son would be happy to go there every day. I surf, so I love being ten minutes from the beach. When I get grumpy, my kids say, “Dad, go surfing!” It’s so soothing and cleansing.

Although I now paint and teach art, I didn’t start out as an artist. I took the scenic route through school. For the first five years after high school, I spent my summers as a lifeguard in Hawaii and managed a ski shop in Mammoth during the winters. Then, after starting college, I co-founded Maui Life Island Wear and started designing clothes. I thought, “Hey, I can do this.” That’s how I got into art. Most of my paintings are of the ocean and lagoon. I see something and get captured by it.

After September 11th I felt compelled to go back to New York and help. I worked with the Red Cross. It was an amazing time. People flew in from across the country and around the world. Chefs came on their own dime to cook for the workers. Like me, all sorts of people felt compelled to go there and help. I left New York with a feeling of hope. For a long time after that, I painted sunflowers.