Member of AAG 1986 - Present

Born in New York City and raised in the Bronx and Queens, Andrew came to Albany in 1955 to work for the State of New York. Starting as an assistant file clerk in the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, he proudly and happily spent 47 years, rising to the Chief of Operations of the Adjudication and Support Services department of the DMV. During that time he married Audrey, a native of Albany and Rensellaer, in 1959, and raised their two children.
Some time in the 1980s he started thinking about what he would do in retirement, which was still a long way off in 2002. He read an article which suggested pursuing an interest or talent that one had as a child, which might indicate an innate ability in that area. Recalling the many hours he spent drawing, pulling apart paper bags to use (he came from a humble background), he thought painting might be the way to go. At one point, as a youngster, he had sent drawings of cars to Ford and GM for their consideration…while being rejected by Ford (they must have had a “better idea”), GM actually offered him $400 to go to Pratt Institute. He decided against it, thinking it would not be practical. Andrew had been accepted to Lafayette College in Pennsylvania while in High School, but decided to pursue a job in government.
So, some time around 1985 Andrew picked up his brushes and has not stopped since. He experimented with acrylics, but gradually was drawn to watercolors. He is self-trained, taking as his models the great artists and watercolorists Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, Charles Burchfield, and especially Ogden M. Pleissner. Much of his work recalls the era of the American Social Realists of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, characterized by the above artists, along with John Sloan, Reginald Marsh, George Bellows, Thomas Hart Benton, etc.. Andrew also submerged himself in the books of noted watercolorists and art educators, such as John Pike.
In addition, Andrew immediately became active in the Capital District Arts community, joining the Albany Artists’ Group in 1985 or 1986, and later the Colonie Art League and Schenectady Art Society. One of his paintings on display here, “Tapping the Maple Tree”, was featured in the 1986 AAG Tri-Centennial Show in March and April at the William K. Sanford Town Library. Andrew has been very active in the Albany Artists’ Group since then, participating in all their annual shows and special shows (e.g. Colonie Center, Tulipfest).