My grandmother was a painter who studied at the Art Students League in New York. Growing up in California, I learned to paint by experimenting with her oils and canvas.

When I was about eight, my mom "commissioned" a painting to hang over the fireplace in our living room. I painted a jungle scene with funny birds perched on long branches. Around this time, I drew my first cartoon, the Wacky Couples. Here it is above!

Today, many things inspire my art. Classic children's books like Babar, Peter Rabbit, and Frog and Toad. Japanese paintings by Ito Jakuchu. Textiles and wallpaper. An amazing exhibit of Edouard Vuillard's work at the Jewish Museum in New York. The purple-blue color of the sky on summer afternoons in California. Interesting people on city streets. Real stories are the best stories, and there are many in Brooklyn.

I like the idea of telling stories with as few words and lines as possible. So, as you'll see, many of my cartoons are silent. The magic is in the little details, which are so much fun to do!