About
Background:
I have studied and taught art for over 17 years. I completed my Bachelors Degree in International Business in 1995 and after which, I came to the realization that a career purely in business was not for me and that my true calling was in the art world. Since then, I have completed considerable coursework in various art subjects and mediums. This includes extensive work in drawing, color, design, watercolor, pastel, photography, as well as my primary interests, Fresco and Scagliola. I have studied at length in both California and Italy. More recently I have also started doing extensive work and study in encaustic painting
My ongoing experiences in Italy have provided me with the opportunity to study and practice Fresco, Scagliola, and watercolor painting more intensely and in a more professional, focused environment. For the past 13 years, I have been living and working in Italy for 4-7 months a year painting Frescos and creating Scagliola professionally.
More recently, I also completed a Masters degree in Art Therapy. My emphasis in this area is working with geriatric and traumatic brain injury clients. I have also created a form of beach based environmental art therapy. I am currently trying to build my art therapy practice. Finally, I have created a Fresco workshop that is conducted in Tuscany as well teaching private fresco painting courses in Hawaii and creating custom artwork by commission.
Education:
St. Francis High School
Mountain View, California Graduated 1984
Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, California
Bachelors of Science-International Business Graduated 1995
De Anza College, Cupertino, California
Art Studies 1995-1998
Il Laboratorio per Affresco di Vainella 1999-2001
Figline di Prato, Italy
Certificate in Fresco and Decorative Painting
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, Indiana 2005-2009
Masters of Art in Art Therapy
Masters Thesis:Combining Art Therapy and Animal
Assisted Therapy for the Geriatric Client
Work Experience (Art Related):
Children’s Art Workshop 1998-1999
Responsible for teaching of fine arts to groups of fifteen to twenty children, ranging in ages from 7 to 12 years old. Duties included development and implementation of lesson plans, creating new art project concepts, and supervision of students.
Aloha Tuscany Fresco Workshop 2000-Present
Aloha Tuscany first started out as a means for selling my Frescos. It has evolved to its current state where I am the owner and operator of a twice a year Fresco Painting workshop located in Tuscany. I also teach private fresco painting workshops in Hawaii and create frescos by commission. AlohaTuscany was featured in the April 9th 2004, Wall Street Journal in an article highlighting the resurgence in fresco in the United States. Details of this business as well as examples of my work may be seen at the following website: www.AlohaTuscany.com
Masters Internship 2006-2008
Worked with Hospice Hawaii and Hawaii Sisters of the Sacred Heart conducting over 1000 hours of art therapy with Hospice and Geriatric clients. This required the use of a wide range of medias and skills to best address the needs of each individual.
Aloha Art Therapy 2009 – Present
Developed Art Therapy workshop business with a focus on environmental, geriatric, and traumatic brain injury clients. www.alohaarttherapy.com further describes the range of work that I do in this area.
Summary of Art Skills:
Buon (True) Fresco
Scagliola
Encaustic
Water color
Pastel
Acrylic
Mixed Media
Art Exhibits:
Graduate Students Exhibit August 2000
Il Laboratorio per Affresco di Vainella
Exhibited fresco completed as part of study, kept by School as part of permanent exhibit
Masters Art Exhibit, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College August 2008
Exhibited examples of the work created during my Masters studies, including Mixed Media and Sculpture
American Contemporary Art in Florence, May 2012
Palagio di Parte Guelfa, Florence, Italy
Invited exhibitor, Mixed Media including Acrylic, Watercolor, and Pastel
Art Workshops Attended:
Marta Solozlozki: Ongoing Weekly Studio Workshop with Master of Watercolor and Pastel, San Jose California, 1996-1999
Tom Lynch: One week Intensive Watercolor Workshop, Cambria, California, 1998
Traveling Watercolor Workshop: Two-Week Plein Air Watercolor Workshop with Master of Watercolor, Jonelle Johnson, Italy, 1999
Intensive 4-week one on one workshop with Master of Scagliola Walter Cipriani of Atelier-Roma, 2000, continuing study in 2001, 2002, 2003
Wax Works West: Intensive one on one encaustic workshop, 2010
Professional Memberships:
American Association of Art Therapy