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I was born one cold November morning only a half hour by bus or train from New York City, where I was exposed to art and theater throughout my grammar school and high school experience.
I came to California as a theater arts major. Mount San to a suburb East of the city of Los Angeles. After-school hours were spent as an apprentice at a professional theater in the round. I was involved in all aspects of the professional play production process, from painting sets to walk-on parts. I stopped classes to work in Hollywood, all the while attending acting workshops and subsequent performances that were the result. Shortly afterwards, I became involved in the then emerging independent film production industry in the early 1970's. I worked for Gene Corman's New World Films, and Robert Altman's Lions Gate Films, among others , mostly as a production assistant or assistant director, but I also did work connected with sets, wardrobe and lighting. Later I moved over to major studio production, where I continued to work as a production assistant and what is known in the business as "stand-in", as well as doing speaking parts in films and TV.
Having had a long and liberal education in the film, I became aware that art was a refinement I wanted to add to my life. This idea led me to pursue a fine art studio degree graduating cum laude in December of 1991. Although I was a Fine Arts/ Studio major, I was very actively involved in the video arts program. I spent three quarters as an undergraduate teaching assistant for a studio video class.
Hungry to learn more about art and painting I applied to, and was accepted to, the Masters program where I completed my MFA, I worked closely with the head of the painting department, doing my student teaching under his guidance. Along with traditional painting, I took three semesters of computer paint programs concentrating on the program Photo Shop.
After graduation in December of 1994, I managed to fulfill yet an other dream. I spent one year doing a self directed study in painting in Italy. I lived and painted 6 months in Rome and 6 months in Florence.
After my stay in Rome I returned to Los Angeles where I have lived for most of my life. I set up a small studio and have been accepting commissions. To date I have sold work to many prominent people connected with the entertainment industry. Dignitaries from all over the world now have my work in their homes.
My e-mail address:
darteo@yahoo.com