- You were born in Oregon, you graduated from University of California and today, you live and work in beautiful San Francisco. As an American artist who traveled the country for years, how do you define the States with some words? If you have to leave your country, where would you choose to live?

Living and working in the United States poses a great duality.  While the US offers  a place where dreams can be realized, and opportunities are available to most through hard work and dedication, it also is unforgiving to those who have a series of bad luck or bad choices.   If you fall from grace it is not so easy to rise up again.  I love living here, and feel so blessed with the abundance in my life, but am really aware of the precariousness of the journey.  The US is a great market for art and for artists to work.   I love Spain - particularly Catalunya, and find living there agreeable to my lifestyle.

- You are working with oil on canvas. Nowadays, digital art is in a rapid development process and that began to change the shape of visual arts. Instead of unique artwork with the smell of paint, pieces that look like each other starts to come up. Do you think the next generations will be able to talk about some masterpieces that are created in 21st century, just like we do while looking at things like Renaissance paintings? How do you think the digital technology affects fine arts?

I used to really debate this idea of digital art vs. traditional art making.  The rhetorical arguments are ongoing and with many valid points of view.  Personally I don't pay much attention to it anymore.  I think that innovation and technology are all around us now and there is no way to keep it from influencing "the arts".  At the end of the day the digital world is just another tool for artists to explore.  Who is to say the great masters would not have been curious too.   I consider myself a traditionalist in my painting, however I am open to trying new things and enjoy the entrepreneurial aspect of working in mixed media, digital art making etc.  The most important thing to me is the imagery and the integrity of the artist and their work- not the medium.  I also believe that people will always feel a great affinity for something that is "hand made".  So, yes, history will still find great art and great artists in the 21st century that got their hands dirty.

- When he is asked to compare the past and the future of our children, one of our previous guest artists, Gottfreid Helnwein said; "We are living in the age where materialism has finally triumphed. The world has been purged of fairies, elves, witches, angels, enchanted castles and hidden treasures. Dreaming and fantasizing is nowadays considered chemical imbalance in the brain of the child." Do you agree with this statement? How do you evaluate the future of our planet?

I would agree that life seems to be harder, faster and more commercial than my childhood.  While more "things" are available to our kids, and immediate entertainment is as consumable as food now with the internet, video games etc.; fantasy and creative plan is sacrificed.  I grew up spending hours in my room making things up or playing "make believe" in the backyard.  My generation are all orphans from that era and perhaps anxious to see it fading in our kids' choices. However we are ultimately masters of adaptation and evolution and our kids will be just fine - just different.

- So which one of you are luckier than the other? You, or your kids Alexa and Ethan?

Like I was saying before, I think that life was slower and simpler when I was a child.   Some of the differences may be socioeconomic, but the most notable are the planned play activities and easily consumable entertainment- contrasted with my sparse pallet of choices. Nostalgia may be painting a better picture of my childhood, but I'd have to say I was luckier.

- It's always been said that the artists should be aware of what happens in the world, so that they can guide people with their words or creations. Are you interested in politics, and if so, what kind of changes do you expect in your country, with the rule of the new president, Mr. Barack Obama?

I am not hugely passionate about politics.  Partly out of cynicism and partly out of media exhaustion.  We are bombarded by politics and news 24 hours a day.  I just get tired of it it.  I do hope Barack Obama creates the change we all voted him in for.  My cynicism  keeps my expectations low though: change doesn't happen fast.  My paintings, and the act of painting itself, have been an escape from the cold hard edged world.  We are so surrounded by "news" and politics , and my hope is my imagery can act as a catalyst for people to drift away into a more peaceful state.

- Since the beginning of 90's, you shared your works with art lovers in numerous exhibitions, mostly in the U.S. Imagine that you had limitless budget for your dream exhibition. In which city in the world and in what kind of place would you prefer showing your creations?

I would love a museum show at the Tate, Chicago Art Institute, Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona and here at the SF Moma.

- Does the music change your mood while working? What genres and which artists do you listen to, nowadays?

Yes.  I am a huge Radiohead fan.  I listen to them and a mixture of jazz and college radio alternative music mostly.

- Another one of our previous artists, well known underwater photographer Zena Holloway told us that Ang Lee is her favorite film director with the vast contemporary spaces that he creates. Which directors do you find closer to yourself in terms of visual comprehension?

Most of my ideas come from my imagination and the likely passive influence of everything visual around me.  I feel I would be stretching the truth to actually reference a particular director as having a direct influence.

- Theme of our current issue is '2'. What does this number mean to you? What comes to your mind when you think about 'two'?

2...I have 2 kids now and one due in Jan/Feb.  So I guess 2 was and is a special number as I think of my children... and when 2 becomes 3.