After attending the California College of Arts and Crafts I trained and worked as a medical illustrator at the University of California, San Francisco. Sketching in surgery had to be rapid and accurate. I know this has had an influence on my painting.

Wherever I go, I carry a small sketchbook. I sketch people in all sorts of places--standing in line waiting in cafes, buses, waiting rooms, airports--everywhere I try to capture the feeling of why this particular person (or group) caught my eye, eliminating those around them.

Sketching in this manner differs from photography which gives everything equal importance. This was also true in sketching in surgery where there were many forceps, sponges etc. that needed to be eliminated to show the procedure.

I often combine several sketches and I like to leave a little ambiguity to the painting. Different viewers often see different things going on in a painting which can lead to good conversation. I like people to use their imagination when viewing my work (people seem to like to make up their own titles for paintings) and I hope they will enjoy doing this as much as I have enjoyed painting.