Born & raised in northern Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain, I quickly acquired an affinity for pine trees and an aversion to water. It was generally believed that one day I would pursue a career in art when the first word I was heard to utter was "neorealism".

Fifth grade with Mrs. Paige, when all my classmates refused to compete in the annual art contest, knowing from past experience that their chances of success were zero to none. However, my artistic stardom failed to help me win the heart of Helen Coates, the most desirable girl in the class. It was probably the glasses.

High school, when I fell victim to a full-blown case of terminal nerdiness and was declared by Mrs. Zimmerman, the art instructor, to be a "lazy bum." In spite of this I was voted “most talented” by a handful of sympathetic classmates, thus reinforcing my decision to venture off to the big city and attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where I was granted a BA in Graphic Arts.

Upon graduation from Pratt I was lucky enough to get a job in the art department of New York Magazine. My next gig lasted 21 years...art director of Sesame Street Magazine...where I was shocked to discover that Bert & Ernie are just puppets and where I earned the nickname “Oscar the Grouch."

Since Valentine’s Day 2001 I’ve worked strictly freelance, affording me the luxury of vacations on demand. This photo was taken at Seneca Lodge in Watkins Glen State Park, very near “Four Pines”, the rustic seasonal cabin on Lamoka Lake that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for 25 years.

This recent photo captures me enjoying a delectable piece of fried chicken in the Avoca, NY, firehouse, with proceeds going to help fund the all-volunteer fire department. If you’ve provided me with work in the past, then in a small way you too helped the brave firemen of Avoca. And if you give me work in the future I vow to spend your money just as wisely.

my first drawing

download a Powerpoint presentation of Four Pines

meet the Muppets

my moment in the sun

Avoca Fire Department

meet Mrs. Zimmerman