Growing up in Swampscott, watching people letter boats I never dreamed I would be doing it someday. But as I got older and still didn't know what I wanted to do I went to Real Estate school and got my license which I never used.
Then I tried bartending school, also something I never practiced . After that I went to dog grooming school and did that for four years but realized it's tough work and couldn't do that for the rest of my life. So I decided to go to graphic design school and needed a portfolio to get into The New England School of Art and Design on Newbury St.
I went to the Boston Museum school during the summer to get a portfolio together, and luckily was accepted. After the first year of taking general art courses I had heard about Butera School of Art for sign painting two streets over on Arlington St. That was all I had to hear, the next year I was at Butera learning hand lettering and was there for two years starting in 1990.
I worked at a sign shop in Marlboro right out of school but the distance didn't work for me. I then worked for Sue's Signs in Peabody hand lettering cement trucks all over Massachusetts, and also at the same time part time for a sign shop in Lynn.
I was lucky that my school recommended me for a full time sign job at Filene's Basement in downtown Boston. I worked there for 6 years starting in 1996 hand lettering all the signs in the Boston store and acquiring alot of clothes, shoes and accessories at big discounts. I met people there from all over the world that came to work at the basement..but the commute was getting to me and I wanted to go out on my own and give it a go!
Ever since then I have been lettering trucks, boats, signs, banners and windows all over the North Shore, making new clients and friends along the way. I only do a little hand painting now as I have a computer that cuts vinyl and also does digital prints...so that's my story...:)
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