Ralph was not interested in his name in front of his creation. “It’s not part of my art.” One instructor would insist that it was only proper, and a name added validation. His next project was a painting (24” x 30”) with his name in four inch letters. Since then, you’ll find his name in front, but mostly his initials.

After high school, Ralph’s love for doing his art was put on part-time while he followed his inner need to help the disadvantaged and handicapped. During his fifteen years working in the mental health field, he incorporated his art into his work. Ralph has sold and exhibited works at various venues in Los Angeles, including the Westwood Arts Festivals and Disney Studios. His works are held in local collections and throughout the U.S. After persistent encouragement from colleagues, mentors and friends to do his art full-time, Ralph finally decided to open a gallery.

Ralph owned and operated Coast Gallery and Framing in Laguna Beach, CA where he focused on selling original art and monotypes. The gallery was a showcase for local artists including mentor and friend, the late Andy Wing (renowned by critics as the last true painter in Laguna Beach and internationally known for his mixed media paintings). Through fire, flood and economic depressions, Ralph struggled to keep his gallery open. After three years, Ralph found that by devoting himself to running a business, he had sold his entire inventory. Upon this revelation, he said “enough’ and closed the gallery to do what he originally intended to do—work on his art full-time. Ralph’s latest venture, Mixed Media & Beyond, allows him to work on his art and pursue design and artistic commissions in residential and commercial settings.