I am committed to creating well-designed products, and enjoy using traditional art in digital projects whenever possible. It is a credo of mine that web sites and other computer-generated media reflect the elements of art and principles of design.
I try to have computer-generated art reflect a handmade quality. The look and feel of this web site is intended to bring to mind a scrapbook, while reflecting the style and philosophy of the Arts and Crafts design movement. I have been a student of this movement since moving to Berkeley over twenty years ago. My design work is also informed by the Secessionists, El Lissitzky, a Russian Constructivist and the Futurists, all of whom were committed to handcrafting.
Another example of handcrafting is to stylize fonts (like those used in the section headlines of this site). To create a craftsman look, I built words letter by letter, using a larger point size of Parisian for consonants and smaller for vowels, and then added ornamention to the vowels.
Graphic and Interactive Design: the graphic design work I do can translate into a range of print or digital output.
Print work includes, but is not limited to, identity, brand, promotional and product design. Examples of promotional pieces are signage and trade show displays; while examples of products are books, CD covers and greeting cards.
Examples of virtual environments are web sites, educational, non-violent computer games, animated e-mercials and multimedia presentations (or movies) for output as CDRoms made in Director or Flash.
Teaching: I have been a teacher since 1974 and always a student, especially of art and design. As a child I loved craftmaking, drawing and painting. I am also keen on holistic health, languages, creative writing, literature and cultural history.
I majored in French and English to appease external gods of practicality. I taught those disciplines, Photography, Journalism and an English/Social Studies Interdisciplinary Core for over twenty years, always finding ways to bring the arts into the curriculum.
When young, I enjoyed a wonderful Humanities education,
and believe a solid arts education is essential for all.
When thus engaged, student learning is experiential and both brain hemispheres are exercised. Students immerse in self-expression and self-exploration, develop their critical thinking skills, and apply content in a way that fosters the learning of that content. They can be more fully present and therefore, feel more whole.
By 1994 I was ready to actualize a life long dream - to attend Art school through an MFA program. I studied Design and Interactive Digital Media, primarily using Director. In 1997, I transitioned into teaching Design and Multimedia at Berkeley City College, Diablo Valley College and the Bay Area Video Coalition. I also contracted as a designer.
Since 1974, I have been a devoted student of holistic health through Yoga. After ten years of study, I became a Kripalu Yoga teacher and shared the joy of meditation in motion through teaching. I eventually opened my own Yoga studio which included a child care facility with art classes.
The studio grew to become a vibrant community; I am grateful for the experience of it. During those years of joyful community service, I was hard pressed to find time to work on my art; I realized I could not do both well.
I have recently returned to working as an artist and designer, with the intention of making art that brings joy to others and designing web sites and print materials for those with integrity, committed to building a better world.