Tree of Life Painting

I am self taught except for some classes from Kean University in NJ, USA and SVA in New York. I am from the east coast, Maplewood NJ is my lovely hometown. It has turned into quite a yuppie fest, as house prices and taxes have skyrocketed. I certainly could not afford to live there. I lived in NYC for about three years. That was where I did most of my photography. Will try to get some up here on Saatchi soon. During that time I also studied sculpture with the great Vasili Nicolesque. A wonderful teacher, half of his color theory class dropped during the first week when they discovered he was teaching it, such was his reputation. He was a last minute replacement for another teacher. He made people work, I liked that. I have a sculpture in the lobby at Kean University in the art building (unless they have thrown it out or sold it). I haven't been back in a while. After NY it was off to Miami, I lived in South Beach and partied my ass off for about 3 years also. I learned a lot about color in Miami. Very bright cuban influences and Art Deco everywhere. Good and bad times there. During this time my father died in NJ. I moved back briefly to take care of him with my brother. On to the west coast, San Diego for about a year. Surfed all the time, didn't do much more. San Francisco was my home for about 13 years. I can attribute that time there with most of my artistic development. I lived first in the Mission district - that is where i created "Universe." I worked at night - late. I would jam my tunes, and feel what I wanted to do and where on the painting, usually working until almost daybreak. I like the quiet of the night. I can think better during the night hours. The psychic energy definitely gets through more. I also painted "Fallen Twins" at that apartment. It was a very cool place. a really big apartment - 4 bedrooms where we had one of each - by that I mean: a gay man, a lesbian, a straight girl, and a straight guy. It worked out well actually and the variance of inhabitants created a sort of balance. I later moved to North Beach, where I had a variety of roommates. I painted "eye candy" and many other paintings in north beach. I had a tiny studio in the back of the apartment where I could concentrate. I progressed a lot during that time.