Born in 1945, I spent my formative years in Vienna, Austria, and entered the professional School for Graphic Design at the tender age of 15. Early in my youth I was drawn to music and the visual arts, so I frequented the Kaffee Havelca, a popular hangout for artists, and was exposed to leaders of the Vienna School of Surrealists, including Hundertwasser, Leherb, Fuchs and many others. At night I studied with a leading graphic designer and in my spare time drew inspirations from earlier Viennese masters, Gustav Klimt, and my favorite, Egon Schiele. I was particularly enthralled with Schiele's line work and his edgy composition style.
A few years after graduating from design school I relocated with my young family to Seattle and eventually launched my own design firm. During the last 33 years, I have specialized in creating logo designs, strategic branding concepts and corporate designs for regional and national companies. Most recently I have worked with startup companies, helping them enter the marketplace with quality design and marketing strategies. Throughout it all I have been privileged to exercise a passion for graphic design while expanding my skills to a level that brought me recognition from many sources.
Now I am poised to undertake my final challenge - one I have prepared for most of my life - the artistic expression of universal themes that resonate with all people. I am creating layered and iconic portraits that draw from all aspects of my background, my youth in Vienna, my career as a graphic artist and my life in the Pacific Northwest.
This small sample book is an introduction to my work, and I look forward to discussing it with you.