My great mentor and friend, Arthur Stern is a renowned architectural glass artist. Based in Benicia, California, Arthur has public installations of original glass work in 38 US states and 6 countries and makes screens, sculptures and paintings. He is a master of geometry and refracted light. His great generosity of knowledge and time has taught me so much about how to tread the path of a professional, visual artist.

I have been truly blessed with finding the friendship of my spiritual brother and mentor, Israeli composer and musician Yuval Ron. Yuval is a great creative light, a true World musical genius who tours his ensemble all over the globe playing sacred music, an Oscar winning film composer, and a peace activist. He has really taught me so much about how to be a gentle soul, lead others to truth, and to be open to the divine creativity in my own life.

Professor Om Prakash Sharma is a giant of 20th century Indian artistic modernism, and a great mentor and friend. A former Fulbright scholar to the US, Professor O.P. Sharma later served as an art professor in the School of Architecture in New Delhi, and later became the President of the National College of Art in New Delhi, where he doubled its size. He was one of the founders of the influential ‘Neo-Tantra' movement in painting, which fused modern painting with ancient Tantric ideas and diagrams. His art works are in major museums in countries throughout the world, and 16 of his works are owned by the National Gallery in Delhi (4 on permanent view). He is a great soul, and I am honored to know him and have had the chance to stay with him, study with him, and travel within India with him.

Tim Kent is one of the most talented painters working in New York City today. His large impressive work in oil painting is rooted in the classical tradition of European painting, engaged with history, landscape, the city, and social commentary, all passed through a deconstructivist, contemporary lens. He's whip smart and super talented. We met when we were both young, broke unknown artists scraping by in New York city. I’m happy to be able to call him my friend for almost 20 years.

I have been blessed with the friendship in recent years of this talented artist and fellow Son of Italy, Anthony Pinata, who I met while we were working at the Oakland Museum. He's a talented painter from a talented family of artists, a new dad, and an all-around terrific fratello.

Friend and past collaborator, Ben Levy's LevyDance is one of SF's premier contemporary Dance companies. Hosting a bi-monthy Salon here in San Francisco, the company also is an incubator and showcase for artists and performers of many mediums. I had the pleasure of doing several 'live' painting events over the years at the Salons, and it was always enjoyable to meet SF's rising dancers and musicians.

Gallery Sam was founded by art collector and dealer Evan Morganstein, in Oakland CA. With a focus on abstract 20th and 21st century painting and sculpture, Gallery Sam has a large inventory of fantastic works, and also represents many living, established artists as well as artist estates. The gallery participates in approx 4 national contemporary art fairs per year and is open by appointment. Find them on artNet.com and Facebook.

Kaji Aso sensei, (1936-2006) was a beloved professor of mine at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Sensei taught me Watercolor painting but actually he taught me so much more, especially about balance and process in painting, how to see color as an experience, and how to cultivate a zen-like approach to mark making as an expression of the life force. Sensei had a wonderful easy and gentlemanly manner, and he valued and honored his students.
Kaji Aso was what I consider a true Renaissance Man. He was a master of many visual Arts, including painting, Japanese brush ink calligraphy, etchings, and sculpture among others. His art is in the collections of museums around the world, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. Thirteen of his works are registered as Japanese National Properties. He wrote hiaku poetry, philosophy essays, and short stories. He was also an accomplished Zen Tea Ceremony Master, and he had a beautiful, authentic tea house built into the ground floor of his studio/residence, the first such structure in Boston. One Spring day, I was blessed when he performed an unforgettable tea ceremony for me.
In his prime, he ran in and completed the Boston Marathon 36 times (a 28 mile run), and he led groups of students on kayaking trips down many of the world's longest rivers, including the Nile (Egypt), the Volga (Russia) and the Mississippi (US) among others.
His approach to life was elegant, refined, traditional, and dignified. Kaji Aso's mastery of Arts and his zen philosophy was so infused into his life and teaching, it permeated everything he touched with a refined beauty.
If you ever find yourself in Boston, I encourage you to visit his studio/gallery and learn about this great man.
He is greatly missed.

My wonderful Alma Mater...
Some of the best years of my life were spent at this wonderful school, which at that time was a branch of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which is across the street. It is now a school within Tufts University.