I grew up as a movie buff, spending many a late night watching the Million Dollar Movie, but never considered a career in the film industry. I caught the acting bug in high school after seeing A Chorus Line on Broadway. During an apprenticeship in Summer Stock; I learned all aspects of Theatre including Lighting and Set Design. At the University of Wisconsin; discovering I didn’t have the singing or dancing chops to make it as a Broadway star ~
I majored in History!
Moving to L.A, I returned to my first love ~ Theatre; which led to Industrial Shows, Theme Parks and Visual Effects Miniatures. Highlights include: Walt Disney Imagineering, as a modelmaker/painter on EuroDisneyland and Disney StudioTour/Orlando and Art Directing a project in Tokyo which gave me the opportunity to travel through Asia. At Disney, a fortuitous meeting with Dianne Wager (the first female set designer) planted another bug; Inspired ~ I took Set and Production Design classes and landed my first union Set Design job in 1991.
I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from many old school Set Designers and talented Production Designers and have worked on some iconic films such as L.A. Confidential, Independence Day and Fight Club. I work in Film,Television and Theme Parks drawing and building models. I am proud to draw by hand and view it as an art form to be preserved; although I am learning SketchUp, Photoshop etc. I also enjoy doing research- I have an extensive book collection and occasionally freelance as a researcher. I served on the set design council for 6 years and remain active in the Art Directors Guild.
