Studio & Design Background

			MY BACKGROUND
			My artistic passion began in my prime years when I lived in Yokohama, Japan. It was 1970 and I was two. My interests in Japanese comics and the cartoons was impactful, to this day. I was drawn-in by the bold graphics, the drama and use of movement within the stories as well as the art I saw on television. It truly influenced my own illustrative style, I love their techniques to tell a story with the bold language of graphic icons. My relocation to Rome, Italy, at age nine also proved to be a fortuitous move for me. I was an artist in the making at that point and hadn't realized it. I had the unique chance to see the actual pieces I studied in my Art History courses, it gave me a great scope of how art and its history can deeply influence each other. I felt inspired to walk where the greatest artists of our time actually lived, but also to see and feel their inspirations firsthand. My move to NYC to study design I believe, completed the cycle which I began in Yokohama. I was finally studying design and conceptual thinking at one of the best art school's in the nation at the time, The School of Visual Arts. I immediately thrived there and connected right away with many of the professors. It was an amazing place to be during that time, you felt like you were at the very center of the art world. SVA, more than anything taught me concept development. Not only strategies of idea-making but how to take that idea, push it past its limits, then how to bring it back for mental consumption. Learning techniques within your own works was up to how far you could push. After 35 years of commercial design industry as a brand developer, I am still helping new business owners achieve their dreams through concept development, online marketing, advertising, and promotional design strategies.
			DESIGN KNOWLEWDGE + PRACTICES
			Besides my photographs all my work is done in Adobe Illustrator as vector art. This allows me to continually use my designs within new applications. This trick also helped me develop my style, and giving my clients a finished piece they expected. After meeting with my customer and doing some research I start sketching ideas. I easily transfer them into the digital world through my own techniques, which over the years, I've finally learned and mastered. Usually within a week I can provide my customer a great finished colored illustration, design or product. I am always open to changes but hopefully if I've listened to my customer well enough, I'll have given them a finished idea which will exceed their expectations. That is always my goal. Luckily with my well versed print background I give all my customers final artwork printers and press operators will love. I worked with over 100 printers across the country and know the process for any project. I know the language as well as the real limitations of each project. I am always available for my customers during this process. Having me talking to the printers and handling printing during that time can be a very helpful benefit for my customers. It's part of my service and already included in what I do. In the end, it helps me getting the best finished product for my customers. I'm also readily available afterwards. Lose a file?.., no problem! I will always have a free backup. I am well practiced in production design, Online media design, all types of print, papers and other medias, silkscreen, product design, internal document design, signage, illustration, animation, and more