I am a professional, commissioned artist who resides in Modesto, California. I

am a sculptor, a painter, a muralist, a mask maker and an illustrator. I received my BFA degree

from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1991 where I majored in ceramic sculpture. The

artists John Roloff, Arthur Gonzalez and Richard Berger were among my instructors at the Art

Institute. After art school I focused on creating figurative ceramic sculpture consisting primarilly of

busts, nude figurative studies and some figurative sculptures inspired by those made by various

world cultures. In 1993 I began work on a series of portrait busts of historically and

socially significant individuals. Some of the individuals I have sculpted include Albert Einstein,

Mark Twain, Cesar E. Chavez, Frida Kahlo, Emiliano Zapata, H. H. the Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton,

Vincent van Gogh and Geronimo.

        My commissioned ceramic busts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy can be

seen at the King Kennedy Memorial Center in Modesto. In April 2005 a cast bronze replica of my

ceramic bust of Cesar E. Chavez was commissioned and installed at Cesar E. Chavez Park in

Modesto, California. I also designed the base and footing for this memorial. In 2010 I

was commissioned by Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville, South Carolina to create

bronze replicas of my ceramic bust sculptures of the Dalai Lama and Albert Einstein. Both

bronze busts are installed at the Liberty Gardens sculpture garden, located at the school.  

      In 2000, after a long hiatis,  I took up painting on canvas again. Since then I've painted

seascapes, landscapes, still lifes, a tsunami themed painting, a neo-cubist figure study and

some portraits. In late Spring of 2001 I was commissioned by the Stanislaus Arts Council, the

California  Arts Council and the Stanislaus County United Way to paint a 20 foot by 20 foot

mural on an exterior wall of a building located at 719  I Street in Modesto.

     The mural was completed in November of 2002 and a dedication event for the mural

occurred on December 10, 2002. The mural was entitled “Valley of Life”. The mural consisted of

nine scenes which reflected the possibilities of human potential in the Central Valley and

beyond. The mural also reflected the ethnic diversity of the Central Valley. In early January

of 2007 the mural was painted over while renovations were being done to the building upon which it was painted. I had

photographed the mural after completing it so I do have images of the nine scenes from the

mural. Since then I have painted murals at my home. 

      Regarding my masks: I have been making Tibetan Cham ceremony masks since the 1970's

when I first became interested in Tibetan art. I have displayed my Tibetan Cham ceremony masks at

a variety of Tibetan and Himalayan themed events. These include the Himalayan Fair in Berkeley,

CA, the Artists for Tibet in conjunction with World Artist for Tibet June - August 1998 art exhibit at

the East West Bookstore Gallery in Mountain View, CA, and the Drepung Loseling monks

Tibetan arts event  in March, 2004 at the Modesto Junior College Art Gallery in Modesto, CA. I

have also made Tibetan masks for theatrical productions in Berkeley and L. A.  

     I make my Tibetan Cham ceremony masks and other masks from a paper pulp based

sculpting medium that I make. When dry, this sculpting medium is as hard and durable as wood.

I sculpt the paper pulp medium over a rudimentary form that I make. Each mask is completely

sculpted by hand. Once the mask is dry I remove it from the rudimentary form and I apply a layer of

modeling paste over the entire mask. Once this is dry I hand-sand the entire surface of the mask. I

then meticulously hand-paint the mask with acrylic paint and, finally,  I apply a clear archival

protective coating over the entire mask. In addition to Tibetan masks I also make masks that are

representative of those made by other world cultures and masks based on other themes. 

     I have sold my work to individuals through galleries and by word of mouth. I have won awards

for my work at various regional art exhibits. I accept commissions and I am always happy to talk to

anyone who may be interested in commissioning an artwork. Galleries, interior designers,

private collectors and others interested in my work can contact me at this site. Contact me for the

price of artworks that are available for purchase.  To contact me you can click on Contact Artist in

the menu at the upper left of your screen or you can call me at (209)338-4516.