Artist Statement/Bio
Photographic Images
Painting Drawing Mixed Media
DOB 04/16/1957 NYC
Childhood
Before and after I could walk my parents would take me to the New York City museums, especially and frequently to the Museum of Modern Art located around the corner from dad's office, mom's fav.
I was a very well behaved good little boy, a virtual Romper Room Doobie if you recall the TV show. When I would get tired mom would sit me down on a couch or chair or I sat on the floor in front of a painting of mom's choice, she would walk the room while I sat mesmerized in front of a work of art. Mark Rothko must have been showing during my early years either at MOMA or one of the other museums we would go to. His work is deeply embedded in my mind, so much so I highly doubt even electro shock therapy could erase those wonderful early childhood memories.
After the museum mom would go shopping and drop me off at dad's advertising office, ( the moment was during the "madmen" era). The office was large with many artists and I would hang out with different people and watch, everyone was friendly.
So began my "apprenticeship"
Mom and Dad were art lovers, education and creativity was encouraged in our home. Dad was a talented, successful commercial logo artist during the "madmen" advertising era. I would hang out there with my dads friend Al Gianni who worked on retouching dye transfers for Revlon. It was an upbeat, fun, intense workplace. My photo apprenticeship was with Paul Kopelow my mentor, instructor, and friend, it was the introduction to my career pursuit and one of the best experiences of my life. Dad conceived the original Coca Cola logo which is still used today, I like to use that style sometimes in my drawings along with some other styles of his. Gatoraide and Sound Design also ring in my memory, Phizer and Lilly seem to resurface often. I remember Sound Design because I got to review and keep the system, wOw, what could be better than blasting Beatles, Led Zepplin, King Crimson, Larry Coryell, John Mclaughlin, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Kinks, Alice Cooper, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa, and so many more. My sister remembers that dad loved his work on the first Elvis Presley album, one his favorite assignments. I played in various rock bands in junior and senior high school, and was one of the yearbook photographers. My after school job was painting houses, exterior in the warmer months, interiors in the winter. We had a piano with a Grandma Moses winter scene hanging above, it had sparkles on it and was magical. I enjoyed playing and looking at the painting at night. I like to use metallics in my work at times to give that Grandma Moses fairytale feeling.
Aduldthood
After Graduating High School I attended The School of Visual Arts in NYC. 6 months later dropped out of SVA and opened my photo studio in 1975
I met my wife in Central Park that year.
I Worked in NYC for 22 years
as a fashion,
commercial and fine art photographer.
My wife and I ran an advertising agency
specializing in direct mail fashion.
A&S Gill Advertising
I Did a few gallery exhibitions
In 1997 due to the inability to find an
affordable studio in NYC
we packed all our belongings and
moved to Los Angeles CA
I had imagined securing a job in the motion picture industry and found employment as the store
manager for Jay Ward Productions
I knew all the characters it was an instant match.
Ramona Ward was an inspiring woman.
I obtained a real estate sales associate license,
then a brokers license sold properties, won awards, flipped houses, shot polaroid's and film for the next 7 years and just had fun with photography.
2004
Commencement of my
first "Strait" painting on canvas
not overpaint on photos
as some of my earlier works display.
I was living on Latrobe St
in the LA hills next to the park entrance.
I executed a drip painting in the kitchen utilizing
the sink for run off.
I had the window open for ventilation.
My neighbor saw me working on it
and Offered to Purchase!!!
I WAS INCREDIABLY INSPIRED.
and so began my obsession
with
painting, drawing and mixed media.
2 decades of works thusfar.
