Listening for the images in your story.
Custom paintings rooted in a place,
a person, or narrative
Tell me what you have in mind
Quintessa Oak, oil on canvas 30”x36”, private commission
What I make
I work in oil and watercolor on paper, panel, and canvas, at scales from intimate to large. Some pieces are landscapes, some botanical, some narrative portraits that hold a whole life in a single image. All of my work shares a start in something real: a place, a person, or a memory.
For public art, murals, and architectural-scale projects,
etsuko’s kimono, watercolor, pencil and silver leaf, 30” x 18”, 2022.
Private commission
Case Study: etsuko's kimono
The Brief: A retirement gift honoring the client’s friend and colleague, etsuko (she prefers her name to be spelled with a lower case ‘e’), who had been part of the nonprofit On The Move (OTM) https://www.onthemovebayarea.org/ since its early days and spent years working in its leadership. The client wanted a painting she could give as a gift, with no set form in mind beyond an image that would feel personal and meaningful to her longtime colleague.
My Approach: I saw an opportunity to create a narrative portrait that could celebrate the major elements in etsuko's life story. I developed an illustrated kimono as the central organizing structure, treating it as both a garment and a storytelling surface. Across the kimono I mapped the chapters of her life: her Japanese cultural roots, her early years growing up in the Central Valley, her journey to the Bay Area, her work supporting others through OTM, and her present-day family life. Symbolic elements run throughout: cranes for etsuko and her children, lilies and water for clarity and care, grapes and leaves for her work in wine country and her growth. At the edge of the composition I added a small broom to recall her first days at OTM and her stated willingness to do any task needed to be of service.
The Result: The finished piece works as a narrative portrait that holds a life rather than a likeness. The whole story sits in a single image, and it rewards slow looking: the more time you spend with it, the more of etsuko you find.
Oil on paper for limited edition wine labels, 2024 · Brand commission, series of six
Case Study: ONEHOPE Winery
The Brief: ONEHOPE Winery saw a plein air piece I posted in Instagram and reached out, commissioning a series of six small oil paintings of the tasting room and surrounding landscape, each to be painted on a blank label they provided.
My Approach: I visited the winery property in Rutherford, CA to sketch the exterior of the tasting room and surrounding vineyards, and studied ONEHOPE's existing label. To echo its design, I added gold leaf to the paintings and painted gold stars into the skies, letting the series feel connected to the brand it would carry. I painted five of the labels in the studio. The sixth I painted live on site, as guests arrived for the annual fundraising event. Each painting was made at the scale of the label itself.
The Result: The newly labeled bottles were auctioned at the event that night in support of ONEHOPE's education fund. The work had immediate purpose, raising funds the evening it was made.
Selected Recent Work
Looking for the Light
Private commission. A forested view from the client's backyard in British Columbia, painted from their own photographs.
oil on canvas, 2026Skating in NDG, 1957 (for Dad)
Private commission. A childhood memory brought back to life, outdoor hockey on an ordinary winter day in 1950s Montreal.
watercolor on paper, 2023watercolor on paper, 2023Our Goat Heroes
Private commission. A portrait of the five goats whose grazing helped save the family home during the 2020 Glass Fire in Green Valley, California.
Pricing
Watercolor commissions start at $600, oil at $950 both for an 11”x14” piece.
Pricing scales with size and complexity from there.
Every commission includes time spent understanding the subject, reference gathering, and the painting itself. Larger works, layered compositions, and pieces requiring travel or extended development are quoted individually.
A 50% deposit secures your place on the calendar, with the balance due before delivery.
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