“When I’m working on a new piece or building frames or just sitting in the studio, everything else goes away, and I like that.”

S: How would you describe your artwork?  

A: I would probably describe it as abstract or perhaps colorfield as those schools are some of my biggest influences. I personally refer to it as “Suburban abstract”.

S: How did you first become involved with making art? Is this your full-time passion?

A: Yes, I spend about 50+ hours a week in my studio and it is my only income currently. I first started making music when I was 14 or so living in Portland, Oregon. This would have been about 1994 or so. I started painting around the same time.

S: What inspiration do you draw from your artwork?

A: When I’m working on a new piece or building frames or just sitting in the studio, everything else goes away, and I like that.

S: What is your process when you create your artwork? Are you consistent with one approach or various?

A: I usually just start throwing paint at the canvas. Everything is pretty much spur of the moment, then I kinda just see what happens. I usually stick with the same approach. I am a very routined person.

S: What tools do you utilize to make art?

A: I usually paint on MDF board or canvas with acrylic or latex paint. I also carve linoleum which is a big part of my work.

S: In what way does jazz influence your work?

A: Jazz is a big part of my day, I usually start off the day with some Alice Coltrane…it’s kind of a ritual. For me, Jazz is very abstract but controlled and mathematic, that’s definitely a huge part of my work. I also pull a lot of ideas and sounds from Jazz for a lot of my compositions.

S: What is the art scene like in the Central Valley? What makes you different from other artists?

A: The Art scene in the central valley is full of wonderful people. I am not really sure what sets me apart from other artists, that’s not really something I think about too much.

S: What do you think is the status of jazz today? What do you think is the status of jazz in the Central Valley?

A: I do know that, Jazz is thriving and new releases come out daily, showcasing amazing talent. Unfortunately I am not really familiar with the scene here in the Central Valley, but I’d like to be!

S: What do you think is the future of jazz?

A: I think the past, is the future of jazz. I think more and more people get into jazz everyday, there’s so much influence in the art world, that wouldn’t be here without jazz.

Interview by Stephanie Barraza