I was raised in New York, in an artistic family. My Father was a professional musician & rare stringed instrument dealer & restorer. My Mother was a ballet dancer that studied with Madam Bronslav Nijinska. My Italian heritage included family members that were visual and performance artists.  My great uncle, pictured here, was Concertmaster at La Scala Opera House in Italy.

I began painting with oils in 1974. I enjoy the versatility & blending abilities of oils. I  also  paint with egg tempera, sometimes combining the two - beginning with egg tempera & finishing with oil glazes. Tempera offers me a change, as it is an immediate and precise medium.

Growing up, I spent many summers in southern Maryland and chased butterflies through the fields there. I also had the opportunity to live in the mountains of northern California, and explore the beaches and marshes of Cape Cod. A love of nature and these open spaces influenced my choice of subject matter.  I make it a point to spend time in the field observing and learning as much as possible about my subjects.