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If you ask me about the artists who are incredibly inspirational for me, and whose art hangs in my home, I would point you to the following professionals and amazing human beings. Visit their sites and you will understand why. I am grateful to be able to learn from them every day, whether spending time in their company, or simply following their artistry.
In addition, I would invite you to scroll down and support, either directly via the links provided or through purchases on my site, non-profit organizations which are doing meaningful work in the Bay Area, whether providing arts education for kids, supporting artistic voices which need to be heard, or providing legal defense for the most vulnerable Californians. For purchases over $100 on this site, at checkout, you can direct 10% of the purchase price to one of the non-profit organizations listed just below my inspirational artists.
Artist
David Ward is one of Britain's most notable landscape photographers, photographic philosophers, and authors, but, most importantly to me, a good friend and mentor. His eye for shape and form is without equal and produces work that is startling in its clarity, and intensity. His photographic + gourmet eating workshops, featuring the extraordinary Saskia are legendary.
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Artist
Lisa Aikenhead, based in Placerville, California, does amazingly beautiful photographic work. Her landscape and wildlife images are a constant source of inspiration. Lisa's work can be found in the Gold Country Artists Gallery in Placerville. Lisa has always encouraged me in my pursuits, especially when it involves me dangling over the edge of a catwalk, waterfall, or cliff.
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Artist
Tony is an award-winning and extraordinarily talented photographer, based in Dorset, in the U.K., who leads fantastic photographic workshops, often to less accessible places around the world and involving once-in-a-lifetime kinds of experiences (which you want to do multiple times). I’m fortunate to be able to call Tony both a friend and mentor, and look forward to my continuing adventures with him.
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Non-Profit
The Crucible of Oakland is a non-profit organization dedicated to arts education and to making the fine and industrial arts accessible for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. It offers fire-arts classes, scholarships, and paid leadership opportunities for local youth and adults, and is presently supplementing arts educations in schools with online courses designed to fire up the imagination. Support arts education for kids!
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Non-Profit
Dream Farm Commons is a small, artist run exhibition and project space in Downtown Oakland, bringing together collections of pandemic- and social justice-oriented community art in a very inspirational way. Latest project: an altar for Black Lives, created by 9 Asian, Asian American and Black artists based in the Bay Area, creating a physical and communal space for solidarity, a space for grieving and remembering, and a reminder of the future we are fighting for and the lives we must uplift, celebrate and protect.
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Non-Profit
At least 8 million low-income Californians experience between 1 to 3 legal problems each year. These problems create barriers to life necessities, like housing, medical care, food, and freedom from violence. OneJustice was founded on a belief that lawyers and law students could be heroes by using their skills to bring equal justice to under-represented Californians in need of legal support.
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