I was born and raised in and around New York City. I have always wanted to be an artist. I used to play "hooky" in the city and hid out in the museums. I went to an art High School, but I didn't really like it; the teachers were too stuffy. It was the 60's and everyone wanted to be "free." As one of six children from a modest middle class family I had to enlist in the navy in order to afford college. After serving in the navy I entered college and began my career as a student of Fine Art. This course of study took me to far away places and experiences. I enrolled at the University of Paris and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts; there I studied the "Masters" close at hand, learning and copying their styles in the museum by day, and then, selling them on the streets at night. I, also, studied Fencing, a true artistic sport. Paris was breathe-takingly beautiful, romantic and internationally exciting; a perfect place for a young man of twenty-five.

From France, I went on to study at the Royal Academies, first in London and then in Copenhagen. I found this a wonderful experience where London was quaintly picturesque, Copenhagen was a winter fairyland. I studied painting and art history. After Copenhagen, I moved back to New York and studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. This was an amazing experience just because of the faculty, who were all successful working artists and demanded professionalism. Later, I was to enter the graduate art program at Montclair State in New Jersey. I was fortunate to study with Peter Barnet, son of the famous painter Will Barnet of the "Ash Can" School. After graduating from Montclair, I went to Chicago to study at Northwestern University's Graduate Art School. I enrolled in painting and printmaking, studying with Ed Paschke and George Cohen two of Chicago's greatest painters. Ed was the leader of the "Imagists" movement of the 1980's and George was the founding member of the famed "Monster Roster" of the 1950's. I was, also, able to study with William Stipe, who studied under Grant Wood, as well as with Martin Levine, a "master printmaker" and member of the "Realist Group" in New York City.

At this same time, I began exhibiting my work in national and international art shows. My works have been published in the U.S. by Northlight Books and in England by Quatro Press. Today I am a professor of art and have been teaching art at the college level since 1986 and still think of myself as a student. Through my work I explore the use of color and light. I work almost primarily in pastels and acrylics because of the rich, vibrant colors and for the immediacy of the medium. I try look at my subject matter with the eyes of the Impressionist and paint with the Expressionist's color palette. My use of color is, both, my impression and expression of the world around me. I love the high intensity of bright colors to interpret my emotional response to the world. I have also begun to work digitally and find this new medium so fascinating and alive; all the fun without the mess.

Among my lists of recent exhibitions are:
London Biennial 2009
Moi Joie De Vie-One-Man Exhibition, 2009,Sundust Gallery, Mesa, Az.
Avisen-avk's International Art Contest 2008-Winter Edition-1st Prize
ARTNOW3,2008-2009-Honorable Award
2007 Florence Bienniale-Diploma of Excellence
ARTNOW2,2007-2008-Honorable Award
Avisen-avk's International Art Contest2008-Spring Edition-2ndPrize
Avisen-avk's International Art Contest2007-Winter Edition
LACDA International Juried Competition Show 2007

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