Our Story:
I was 42 years old when I began putting my highest ideals into my art with this series "A Loving Home." My earlier art, which I created and showed for over 10 years, were fun and whimsical cartoon faces; well loved, and in perfect alignment with my inner growth. As I grew my need to bring my ideals forward came into being, so after a couple of years of experimenting with a new look I jumped into this style of the little house with a heart. The look and sentiments are meant to convey simplicity, community, and family – the things that give us strength and make us smile.

Tirza, my daughter entered the art world at the age of three, in 2003, spending a lot of time with me in my Flagstaff, Arizona art gallery. She had her own little playroom in the back of the store and would pop out to experience the fun of sharing art with new friends. It didn't take her long before she was displaying her art creations for sale. Then, just two years later, at five years old, she offered me an idea for our first collaboration, "Dad, you have to make a strawberries piece, and this is what it has to say. Strawberries are made of love and so is Mama, Dada..." On and on she went telling me the names of all the people in her life that are ‘made of love.’ 

With the purity and passion I was seeing at that moment I wanted to offer Tirza more creative room to grow, so I asked her if she wanted to sketch out her idea with my assistance. I still remember the moment we were sitting on the couch in our little apartment, me trying to hold back my enthusiasm, and just letting her take the lead. Finally there were a few solid ideas on the sketch pad, then she latched onto something I had going and improved on it - so she wrapped up the design. How perfect, she started the process with the words for the piece and then she had the idea to seal the presentation. We were both thrilled, and today the Strawberry piece remains one of the top selling pieces. The next day at the gallery she handed me another sketch, a cute flying pickle with a little house on it; that design evolved and the pickles piece was a hit too for the amazing amount of pickle lovers in this world.