I figured since I'll probably be pointing people here to look at my photos and to find out something about me that I should actually post some information about me. So here goes.
I was born a small black child... No wait, that's not right (thank you Steve Martin). Anyway, I'm originally from New Jersey. I am the only son and only child of George & Laurel, who live out here on the left coast in Ventura. I grew up at 28 Cobblewood Road in Livingston, a quiet middle class suburb about 45 minutes Northwest of New York City. I lived on the same street that my 2 aunts and my grandparents lived on (in the next 3 houses down the street, no less), so family was always a big deal for me growing up. I identify most with my Italian side of the family, as I spent most of my childhood with them. Weekends, Holidays and vacations were often made up of enormous family gatherings including various extended Italian family members (many of which I never knew the names of)and impossibly huge pot luck dinners. Going "down the shore" (that would be the Jersey Shore - Point Pleasant & Ortley Beach) with the cousins in the summer was the biggest event of the year. Much black socks with sandals were seen on the beach... Believe me.
In the spring of 1983 (I was not quite 13 yet) my family moved to California, so my mother could study for her masters degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. At first I wasn't too into it, because I needed to leave all my friends and extended family behind, but now I am glad we did - I Love California! I was a TOTAL dork when I first moved here - very "New Jersey". California has help to form me into the "Not Quite As Much of a Dork" that I am today. However, regardless of California's attempt to De-Geek me, I still turned out to be a bit of one. Go figure. Anyway, I went to Los Cerritos Jr. High School in Thousand Oaks, Westlake High School in Westlake Village, and attended a year of college in the Jazz program at CalArts in Valencia. I now live in Valencia, CA with my 2 dogs, Bailey & Lucky.
As for my personality, well I'm somewhat of a paradox - An artist by nature, a gentle soul (in touch with my feminine side), but also "manly" when required, for doing things like watching football, BBQing meat, grunting incoherently or changing the oil. I can be incredibly silly one minute, and serious the next (under my deceptively "mature" exterior I'm pretty goofy... ok REALLY goofy). I am very intelligent, but also laugh uncontrollably at incredibly stupid things - like Paris Hilton. OK that was kinda cruel (but not untrue). I'm a big fan of the "Frat Pack" movies lately - Old School, Anchorman, Wedding Crashers, etc. Genius! I love to travel and go out, but I also love to stay home. I can enjoy an art film just as much as one with more explosions than dialogue. My iPod has everything from Frank Sinatra to Rob Zombie on it. Gourmet food makes me just as happy as a Tommy's burger & fries. See? I'm a walking oxymoron. Wait... did I just say I was a moron? Anyway, in short I'm a pretty well-rounded, easy going, simple kind of guy. I love my family my friends, my dogs and my Harley. (Not necessarily in that order - depends on the day...) :-P
I enjoy all types of things for fun. I love going to the movies, just about any kind as long as it entertains. I like taking my 2 dogs out for walks - plenty of pics of them in the slideshow post, by the way. I'm a kid at heart... LOVE Disneyland!!! (Deluxe CA season pass... ahem.) I have played the trombone since I was in fourth grade, and now I'm learning to play bass. I LOVE taking pictures - trying to build a business around that. Love animals, all animals really but especially dogs, wolves and horses. To relax, I go for a ride on my Harley. No, I'm not a "biker" but I love to ride. I enjoy seeing live music in small venues with local acts - prefer that to the "stadium" experience but I go see mainstream acts as well. I enjoy having friends over, cooking them an extravagant meal, sharing wine... I love being outdoors, whether it be at the beach or in the mountains - I really enjoy camping and hiking and just sitting back, enjoying a cup of coffee watching the sun rise (whenever I happen to be up that early). I love the rain - nothing like curling up by a fire, snuggling with someone while it's pouring outside. Granted that doesn't happen too often around here in SoCal, but I enjoy it when it happens thoroughly. I also work out about 5 days a week - not an insane fitness nut or anything, just trying to get into shape! The working out thing is a fairly new vice for me - I just love the way it makes me feel throughout the day. Of course the increase in size of "The Guns" is a nice added benefit... (hopefully you know what that means and are not mistakenly completely disgusted thinking it's some sort of crude sexual reference...)
As for my job, I started out as a professional artist back in 1993 at a small independent comic book company called "Malibu Comics". There I learned how to paint using Photoshop, and it is that knowledge that has carried me through the rest of my career as a professional. From Malibu Comics I transitioned to Hanna-Barbera Animation, working on "The New Adventures of Johnny Quest". From there I jumped to the greatest job I've ever had - as a scenic artist and general digital art guru for Walt Disney Imagineering on a project called DisneyQuest (there's still one in Orlando!). After that I've done lots of things to keep myself afloat, including advertising, DVD boxes, letterhead, and various animation projects for Warner Brothers and Sony. Currently I am a color supervisor for an animated TV show (my day job). I am also a photographer and a freelance graphic artist. I enjoy my job, though any job can be trying at times. at least I'm doing something creative and I don't have to wear a suit!
That's all I can think of for now - I'll probably edit this post continually as I remember more things.
Thanks for reading...
-G-
As it says... the first post. I wish I could say something especially witty right now, but I can't think that hard at the moment. SO this is what you get, for now. Deal.