What was your journey into a career in fine art?

I worked as an actor in film, television & theatre for many years. Between acting jobs I began working at a prominent art gallery in Los Angeles. I knew nothing about art other than my appreciation for it, which was nurtured from the many visits to museums around the world. I jumped in, sold lots of paintings and limited editions, and eventually discovered my own eye for recognizing talent. Under the helm of a top publisher, I helped develop the career of a new artist, placing his work in galleries across the country. Today he is one of the world’s leading artists. After several years, it was time to move on to something of my own. That is when Meredith and I created The Howse Collection.

How did Second Story Fine Art come about?

The world economy tumbled and went sideways. Rather than play into the negativity and swim in the soup that was seemingly the demise of the art industry, Meredith and I decided that we would take this time to reinvent. We knew that we needed to expand beyond a husband and wife team and open up new doors. Jeff was already consulting with us on expanding our business in the U.K. and a symbiosis was developing. The three of us were on the same page about business, life, and creativity, and shared a unique vision for developing talent. The door opened. Second Story Fine Art was formed over dinner, wine and good cheer.

What is your role in Second Story Fine Art?

Gallery liaison and director of sales, both domestic and international. I introduce the work of our artists to galleries and assist gallery owners in building the programs.

Where do you see Second Story Fine Art in five years?

I believe we will be working with a myriad of galleries internationally. Our current stable of artists will have grown exponentially and their originals and limited editions will be collected worldwide. We will maintain our reputation for nurturing sales growth while upholding high standards for our galleries. We will hold a respected position in the art industry. Additionally, we will be recognized for our philanthropic work. Finally, there will be facets of our business that will venture onto untravelled artistic avenues.