I grew up in Peekskill, New York located on the eastern shore of the Hudson River. Ironically, it wasn’t until I went to art school that I learned that the Hudson Valley has a long artistic tradition of inspiring landscape painters beginning in the 1800’s. I was the youngest of four sons in a middle-class family. We all attended a Catholic grammar school and I’m grateful for that. Although I’m not religious now, the experience did instill in me a healthy scepticism, open-mindedness, and interest in symbology. Both my parents were very good with their hands and I grew up believing that I was capable of creating anything I set my mind to.