I was born and raised in the Silicon Valley of the San Francisco Bay Area, when there were more orchards than tech companies. I always enjoyed drawing as a child, and drawing, cartooning, and sketching were my favorite pastimes, I was self-taught. My first real art training was in high school. In my middle and elementary school, art was an afterthought, it was never a subject that was taught. Also in high school, I fell in love with the sport of gymnastics. In order to pay for my gym fees, I took my first job as a gymnastics instructor. It was then that I also discovered an aptitude for and enjoyment of teaching. I continued teaching and competing in gymnastics when I entered San Jose State University.
At SJSU, I discovered the theatre, and completed my undergraduate studies studying theatre and film, equally involved in performance and production design. I worked in professional theatre after graduation, and also worked as a stand-up comic for two years. I decided against a career in show business, and then turned back to the visual arts.
I attended De Anza College to study fine art and painting. At that time, I also started working in the printing industry, working as a prepress technician and learning the technical aspects of digital design. With enough college work to fill a portfolio, I then was able to find work as a graphic designer, and worked as a designer for nearly four years.
I then moved to England with my wife, who grew up there. We have two wonderful children. In England, I worked in the gallery trade, as a gallery manager, art consultant, and picture framer. When the gallery I worked for was sold, I went back to work in the printing industry.
After four years in England, my wife and I separated, and I returned to California. I worked in retail sales for a few years, which culminated in working for a prestigious gallery in San Francisco. I discovered that sales was not my strong suit, but I rediscovered a love for teaching.
I started working as a substitute at St Francis High School in Mountain View, at the suggestion of my high school art teacher, who still teaches there. I also taught in summer schools and summer camps. I was then accepted in the graduate program at the Santa Clara University Graduate School of Education, to receive a Masters Degree in Education and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art in June of 2018.
At SJSU, I discovered the theatre, and completed my undergraduate studies studying theatre and film, equally involved in performance and production design. I worked in professional theatre after graduation, and also worked as a stand-up comic for two years. I decided against a career in show business, and then turned back to the visual arts.
I attended De Anza College to study fine art and painting. At that time, I also started working in the printing industry, working as a prepress technician and learning the technical aspects of digital design. With enough college work to fill a portfolio, I then was able to find work as a graphic designer, and worked as a designer for nearly four years.
I then moved to England with my wife, who grew up there. We have two wonderful children. In England, I worked in the gallery trade, as a gallery manager, art consultant, and picture framer. When the gallery I worked for was sold, I went back to work in the printing industry.
After four years in England, my wife and I separated, and I returned to California. I worked in retail sales for a few years, which culminated in working for a prestigious gallery in San Francisco. I discovered that sales was not my strong suit, but I rediscovered a love for teaching.
I started working as a substitute at St Francis High School in Mountain View, at the suggestion of my high school art teacher, who still teaches there. I also taught in summer schools and summer camps. I was then accepted in the graduate program at the Santa Clara University Graduate School of Education, to receive a Masters Degree in Education and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art in June of 2018.