Painting scenic backdrops ( and then, set design) were a natural progression after producing public murals. Early in my painting career I met Gary Lloyd who became one of my mentors. He owned Skydrops, a backdrop rental company where I often worked starting in 1997. Two years later I took over his 7000 square-foot studio in Los Angeles and renamed it Drop Shop Studio with my partner, Jimi Vieira.
Most of the scenic backdrops I have created were for music videos and backgrounds for commercials and film. The biggest backdrop I have painted was 40’ tall by 250’ wide for a Jack-in-the-Box commercial. It featured Jack as George Washington crossing the Delaware River. It was very challenging, but I completed it in four days to meet their tight production schedule.
