Frank’s path in his passion for art is a long one, spanning 50 years. Beginning in the 1970’s as a young student in New York at Columbia University, exploring his artistic expression.

Frank experimented with unusual mediums and textures like rug remnants, fabrics and abstract drawing, leaving art teachers questioning if he had done the work himself to create something so unexpected and breakthrough.

In his free time he created endless pieces and gave them all away to friends and family. It was the art of restoring beauty that drove his passion. Taking the everyday materials like plywood and concrete and transforming them into something beautiful, familiar, and surprising.

In graduate school, he discovered he had Attention Deficit Disorder. He saw it was harder for him to stay focused, and his academics were a challenge. He was easily distractible and got bored quickly. This led him, however, to work across multiple mediums and stay passionate in his work.

THERAPY AND ART

In graduate school, Frank set aside his artistic expression to pursue a more practical career in Psychology. He enjoyed being a therapist and helping his patients restore their natural beauty. He relished supporting them to find their own path and become their best versions of themselves. He was good at it, and went on to have a successful 40+ year career as a therapist and professor, helping hundreds of people find themselves.

However, the artist in him kept calling out. He quickly discovered that after a great session, there was nothing to show for his efforts. He missed the tangibility of art, creating with his hands, and the satisfaction of the permanence of it.

In his return to Phoenix, he met Kerry Vesper, a fellow therapist who turned sculptural artist. Frank watched as Kerry made his transition from therapist to full time artist (www.kerryvesper.com). So while not ready to walk away from psychology, Frank had a roadmap to fully embrace his artistic expression in the future.

After his experience with Vesper, and developing his therapy practice, Frank fortuitously met a sculpture instructor at Scottsdale Community College, where Frank was teaching. Sculpture became the perfect compliment to his work as a therapist. Frank, along with a venerable group of long-timers, have developed together and bonded over their art, with several becoming accomplished sculptors in their own right.

Frank also discovered a passion for meditation and teaches it today. As a therapist, it is difficult to shut off the job, but working on an artistic project and meditation allows him to maintain balance in his life and continue his passion for both art and therapy.

As he does in therapy, restoring his patients’ natural way of doing things, so they are more themselves, Frank’s passion for art takes the same approach. Plywood, once a tree, can be transformed and returned to a state of beauty.