In March of 2006 I was enjoying a glass of Woodford Reserve Bourbon at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Times Square. A man named Thomas Kennon, CEO of Purplezen.com and an avid art collector, observed me drawing at the bar. Thomas convinced me that I may have a talent worth exploring. When I got back home the owner of an upscale framing gallery, Beyond Dimension, and former Director of the St. James Art Fair, Sandy Barber, said "well, lets do a show and find out what the folks think."

Since then things have been crazy, selling pieces, booking shows or fielding requests for donations to be auctioned.  I was approached about doing a show in Milan, Italy (my fingers are crossed). I have been invited to Miami on Super Bowl Weekend to meet gallery owners and attend some Super Bowl events that last year I only read about on the web. Who knows, things come and go and maybe I just sold my last piece of work but whatever happens tomorrow or the next day, my life has been one hell of a ride. This is clearly due to the great women throughout my life.

It is funny how life is. I grew up the youngest son of Irish immigrants. My mom cleaned the homes and my father was the gardener for some wonderfully generous people who exposed me to things I normally would not have seen. I once knocked an original Picasso off a bathroom wall while my mom was cleaning the house. Thank God I caught it and there was no damage. That was a serious first exposure to art!!

Growing up on Philadelphia's Main Line I learned a lot about life, love and hard work. From being a bellhop at The St David's Inn, at the time one of the nicer hotels on the Main Line, to having frank discussions with the current Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, about the Philadelphia Eagles and Villanova Basketball when I was a 20-year-old radio producer.  I actually stood on stage in the heart of south Philadelphia and said something like, "Ladies and gentleman please welcome the man who I say is the best mayor Philadelphia has ever seen. Please welcome Mayor Ed Rendell!!!!!" The crowd was silent because South Philly was owned and operated by the legend of their native son former mayor Frank Rizzo. Political suicide for a politician to say he is better than Frank Rizzo. The mayor picks up the microphone, looks me dead in the eyes, and said "Are you kidding me? You're going to stand in South Philly and make a statement like that?" then turned to the crowd and won them over. When we got off stage I said "Mayor, I am sorry about that." He laughed and said "kid don't worry about it. You will sure as hell remember this mistake."  I told him "I hope you run for Governor some day because I think you will win," His response was to laugh and say, "I won't with your help." He is a tremendous leader and a great influence.

There are a million more stories and I hope these pictures capture the wild ride that is my life!!