East Berlin PA

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The Story of My First Two Investors

I have often been asked how I started doing caricatures, but rarely asked how I started my entire business. I got to thinking about this today, and thought it would make an interesting story-post. Sometime back around 1986-1987, I was working as a clerical aid for Allstates Engineering Company, an onsite contractor at the old DuPont Louviers facility in Newark, Delaware. There was an older woman friend from the Newark Church of Christ (where I had worked a number of years prior...

House Portrait for Les and Betty

I have a color theory book called “Making Color Sing” and this hot pink used in my house portrait is called “Opera Rose” by Winsor and Newton! Intense colors excite me, and working them into a piece of art with the right harmony and all else, design-wise and form wise, can be quite a process. I met up with my cousin Les and his wife, Betty, about a month ago to deliver the framed original and two framed prints for each of their sons....

Three Recent Gigs

Caricature season is ramping up! In the past ten days I’ve done three gigs. The first was “Among the Stars” – a special needs prom held at the Foursquare Gospel Church in Gettysburg, PA. The next day, I drew children and adults at UD’s “Fandemonium” Event at the University of Delaware. And lastly, I was at an outdoor student event on the campus of Thomas Jefferson University. Please contact me if you would like to book me in for a...

Hand-Painted Church Portrait on Wedding Invitation

Last week I finished another commissioned watercolor painting on matteboard surrounding a wedding invitation. The piece was custom framed in a cream barnwood, and my client was very pleased! “Oh my goodness! I love it. Your work has a wonderful 3D effect and your use of color really make the whole picture pop!” ~ karen Copponi The joy I feel when clients communicate their feelings about my work and how gifts were received brings such meaning to all I do...

Four Recent Caricature Gigs Set to Music!

This audio-video shows photos from my most recent caricature gigs! When I am at events I enjoy the little conversations I have with each person I draw. I remember little snippets of things they tell me about themselves as I ask questions in order to listen and get them to engage with me while I try to quickly capture them. What I may ask in general depends on the event. At the Jefferson College event the most obvious questions to...

Seeing, Immediacy, Watercolor and Life…

Recently I painted a portrait from the last photo taken of a friend’s father, drinking his coffee. I saw the image shared online last summer and was immediately struck with the desire to paint from this image, for a number of reasons ranging from care and sympathy (this photo had accompanied some sharing about her father’s recent death), to the immediately recognizable artistic qualities this image presents to me as a painting-worthy photo reference. As I worked on the piece...

Magic at the Moonstone Manor

Lisa and Jon Adams were married at the Moonstone Manor mansion and gardens on June 18, 2022 – such a beautiful and magical wedding venue located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. I was honored and delighted for the entirety of my experience with this couple, the mother-of-the-bride in particular, and other family members and guests I had the privilege and opportunity to interact with during the event itself. I am always grateful for each significant commission I now choose whether to accept...