People often ask how long it takes to do a piece. The answer is “my whole life so far,” because I’ve discovered that the art that I produce is shaped by everything that has happened to me over the course of my life. Life influences the way that I see things, and what I perceive as balance and beauty. So, here is how I got here (the short version).

I started my working life as a computer scientist, which is not nearly as exotic or as difficult as it sounds. I found that I was a terrific designer, but an awful programmer -- my software always had bugs! Maybe that's why they moved me into management.

One day, I awoke to discover that a Masters in Marketing had turned me into a marketing person. I didn't plan it. I really didn't even notice when it happened. I literally woke up one morning and realized it. It took a long time to get used to, but marketing was a really good thing for me. I was good at marketing and it took me to Europe where I lived for several years soaking up the cultures, the foods, and all that wonderful chocolate -- especially the chocolate!

One thing led to another and I became an International Marketing/Business Consultant. Later I started a successful art-on-CD-ROM company which took me all over the world meeting with artists from dozens of countries and once again I was soaking up cultures and food (OK, and the chocolate).

Somewhere along the way, several years ago, I decided to work in stone as a hobby. So, I got a book on carving from the library, bought a cold chisel, a carpenter's hammer, and a piece of rock. I started on page one and by the time I had finished the book, I had made a sculpture. I liked what I saw, so I bought a copy of the book, spent $100 on some real stone carving tools (which I still use) and made a second piece.

A neighbor saw my work, asked me to design something for the entryway of her home. Someone else saw that piece, and before I knew what had happened I was in the sculpture business, with a backlog of commissions and galleries asking for my work. Just as with marketing, I didn't plan it, and once again I woke up one morning and said, "My God, I'm a sculptor."