I began painting with oils in the late 90s. Prior to that I had my colored marker phase, my black and white phase, my obsessively designed intricate technical pen phase... More recently, living in Seattle and falling brush first into acrylic media now mixing and remixing seems like any shape or form can find its way in to my art practice. I feel a large amount of creative freedom and flexibility with my art making, and I am still intrigued by certain themes (line, boundary, texture, color, form, movement). I was born here, in the Sonoran Desert of Baja Arizona. My earliest color fascinations revolved around desert plants, mountains, sunsets and in many ways still do. My ancestral background features some Ukrainian, some Slavic, some Swedish and a bit of Irish. I have lived other places (Manhattan, Seattle, St. Thomas, Costa Rica) love to travel and enjoy calling Tucson my home. In Manhattan I worked in the wine trade with Gourmet Magazine, TVFN, Sub-Zero, national trade groups, larger firms and individuals creating proprietary wine programs, wine dinners and educational presentations. Back then I would hustle out of the City over the weekends to study art with Myron Barnstone at his Atelier in Coplay, PA and then back to NYC for the wine work week. In Seattle I created a commercial gallery, worked as a Sommelier in another WS Grand Award restaurant and painted up a storm for private and corporate clients. Here in Tucson I am blessed to have my largest studio yet, with the most capability for a variety of productions. I accept a few commissions each year, in addition to my studio practice. Scale does not intimidate me, and I appreciate my clients! I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labors, and look forward to reading your comments. Get in Touch! Cheers, -Zal.