What I do
Since May of 2002 I've been designing and developing for the Internet as an independent contractor. I've done a lot of work with high profile clients like The SF Opera Company, Salon.com, Cyworld, AOL, Stryker, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Zynga as as well as lesser known outfits and individuals. I enjoy my work: taking a few conversations and maybe some sketches and turning them into functioning web sites. It is truly a craft that, when performed excellently, brings joy to the craftsman.

To be sure, there are always challenges. Sometimes larges ones. But surmounting has always made my triumphs the sweeter. Each project is different -- its own little universe -- has its own rules and restrictions that can't be circumvented. This one might need sound and animation on all browsers -- and Blackberries, that one has one set of slideshows for PCs and another using non-flash technology for iPhone & iPad. And of course, design is a complicated and subtle language in itself.

The problems and challenges thrown down by design are often the most difficult to solve. Design's success isn't measured by empirical metrics. You have to have a developed sense of empathy to put yourself in the client's and the client's customers' shoes. You need to ask yourself, "what do I, the customer, have to see to convince me of the excellence of this product and my need for it?". The infinite number of possible products & services makes it necessary for a good designer to have a very nimble imagination.

Design and Development Consultant
May, 2002 - Present. Specializing in design, development and illustration of websites and other online media. Create mainly interactive on line media with Flash, CSS, HTML, Javascript and PHP/mySQL. Projects include websites, advertisements, ultramercials, wine labels, promotional & marketing collateral, branding & identity, illustration and design.

Immersive use of Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, hand illustration.

Dorado
March, 2000 - May, 2002. Senior Graphic Designer & UI Developer, Built and designed client websites using Dorado Scenario Server technology and XML. Clients include Washington Mutual Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, First Ohio Bank, George Mason Mortgage Corporation, H&R Block, Wells Fargo and others. Using Javascript, XML, HTML, CSS and proprietary technologies, I built customized, dynamic online mortgage tools for banks to manage loan applications and associated information.

Dorado
January, 1999 - March 2000. Senior Graphic Designer, I did all design, engineering, maintenance of website, all collateral graphic material for print and the Internet, design for Dorado clients, Dorado products, and anything else. Fluent in all essential web building applications and technologies. Dorado continues to use logo I designed.

Freelance Graphic Designer
June 1997 - January, 1999. Illustrated, designed & built Web sites, graphical elements, logos & advertisements for such clients as Alexa.com, College News Online, ZD Net News, Hooked On Phonics, Xoom.com, NBCi & others.

FreeLoader, Inc.
April 1996 - June 1997. Graphic Designer/Illustrator. Responsible for daily illustration of news articles, advertisements and diverse promotional material using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Specular Infini-D, as well as traditional methods. Created animated GIFs, Macromedia Director movies as well as Quick Time animations in Specular Infini-D. Did interface design and maintenance as well as logo and icon design.

Compact Publishing Freelance Artist
May 1994 - Nov. 1995. Created original artwork for Compact Publishing's award-winning Man of the Year and Time Magazine CD ROM. Created demographic maps, charts, graphs and various graphical elements in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Cleaned and enhanced scanned images in Adobe Photoshop.

Library of Congress
April 1992 - April 1996. Cataloger. Updated and maintained catalogues for newly arrived periodicals. Created database for new computerized cataloging system.

Education

Two years of apprenticeship under master painter, Walter Nobbe, The Hague, Netherlands.1989-1991

Two Year Certificate from De Vrai Academie, The Hague, Netherlands. 1988-1990

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 1981-1985