This is one and the first in a series of oil painting, I hope to produce over the next two years. The purpose: portraits of friends, associates and acquaintance that have greatly influenced my work and given me a different perspective on life.

This is Robert Kenny Jr, also know as the co-founder of WATERKEEPERS.  Kennedy, during one of his many speeches, said, “Stop where you are and make a positive impact right where you are standing.”  This was especially poignant towards me and my work as I had traveled as far as the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, in the mountains of  Wolong, Chengdu, China, to meet up with project colleagues. I have no regrets, as I was working with the San Diego Zoo and was to meet up with legendary George Schaller in the exact location where he “saved” the panda and wrote his wonderful and famous book, The Last Panda in the 1970’s.
But, shortly after returning from China, where I had spent over three months, my dearest friend and business partner, suddenly passed away. Our “Wolong Panda” poster was waiting, unfinished on the computer when I began to stay closer to home. And as suggested by Kennedy, just a few months later, I started working with the Santa Monica Bay Keepers. http://waterkeeper.org/