IN CHARACTER was inspired by my experience with the opera. My introduction to opera was entirely by chance. My wife read, in a newspaper column, that the San Francisco Opera was looking for men of my height and build for Carmen. I went to an audition, and before I knew it, I was a supernumerary in the opera. From the beginning, I was fascinated by what happens when people put on makeup and costumes. They become the character. And I became a character as well.

Most of the talent have no acting background. I certainly did not. Yet, when you put on the costume, you magically put on a persona. I can be a soldier, a servant or a guard or anything.

From the start, I knew I wanted to set up a studio in the basement of the opera house. (Copyrighted costumes cannot leave the Opera House!) For five frustrating years I tried to get permission, without success. Finally, one day, I just showed up with all my gear and set up in the basement. I would either get thrown out or have the chance to get some wonderful portraits. I invited the talent to come down to the set and then worked very fast, because they were on their way to the stage. I was obsessed! Needless to say, I did not get thrown out, and six years and 32 operas later, I have a huge body of work, which will some day be a book. It was a life-changing experience, and I loved every minute of it.