Background Story

Orkney

Born and raised in Twin Falls, Idaho, I am the son of educators and am descended from bankers, politicians, ranchers, farmers, business people, common people, proud people, matriarchs, Scots, and Basques.

Originally trained at Yale University in Applied Mathematics, my professional life was primarily consumed with business operations, human resource management and benefits planning/administration, technology consulting, and software engineering, navigating startup companies and the Fortune 500. Somehow, that whole world never quite fit and I forever found myself pursuing creative endeavors “on the side” and seeking to tune in to my Truth.

I have written music, poetry, and screenplays. I attended Seattle Film Institute focusing on screenwriting in 2003/2004. In July 2004, I became a husband; March 2006, a father; and November 2007, a painter of acrylics on canvas.

In 2013, I relocated to California from Seattle, where I am represented by the Alki Arts Gallery and Ryan James in Kirkland. In California, I have been represented by Johanna Spilman in the San Francisco Design Center, have had numerous corporate installations through ALC Designs and McKinley Art Solutions, have displayed work with Studio 333 in Sausalito, and have participated in SF Open Studios at SOMA Artist Studios and Fort Mason and have shown four years running during East Bay Open Studios.

I was a contributing artist to the 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 Artist Trust Benefit Auctions and contributed to the ArtSpan Auction from 2014 through 2016, with my work, Sooth, was part of the live auction (2015). In addition, proceeds from my work have benefitted Deep Roots (deeproots.org), ACT Theaters, Alki and Joaquin Miller Elementary Schools, DAWN (Domestic Abuse Women’s Network), PAVE (Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment), Sintaro Village, Ethiopia, the Alzheimer’s Association and other causes. My art is in private collections on the West coast and beyond.

I experiment in abstract nature, figures, colors, concepts, and process. Thematically, I consistently explore the boundaries of reality. I am an artist for change.