Tennessee Upon arriving in the US from South Africa, at the age of 23, I was commissioned to do a portrait for Burt Reynolds. I lived in LA for 17 years wearing multiple hats but also doing commissioned paintings for architects and designers. After completing my first painting in 2007, Shelter From The Storm, I was approached to have it featured at the Legends Ridge home parade. In 2015 I took a painting hiatus, but I've recently reinvigorated my passion for painting and returned to the studio! Some of my favorite painters are Joaquin Soroya, John Singer Sergeant, Ilya Repin, and Chase Chen. I've painted most of my life; in between being a teacher, producing films, writing screen plays and songs. Painting was a place I visited from time to time, but now I feel I have finally come home, and I don't want to leave. There is peace of mind, and this is where I want to stay for the rest of my life. My mom painted into her 80s as will I hopefully! I paint when I am drawn to a certain emotion that a particular setting or image evokes. Often this emotion might reflect my position at that time, or just something I'm challenged to capture on canvas. I've always liked subtle colors, blues, grays.