Where did you grow up? I grew up in Ossining, NY (suburb of NYC, home of Sing Sing prison). I moved to Los Angeles to study film in 1979. What brought you to art? There's two parts to that question. I have no idea what makes me the kind of person that likes to create. An accident of birth, perhaps? I was brought to the world of showing art by a friend who saw some work I had done and suggested I submit it to a gallery. How often do you work in your studio? I keep banker's hours, working weekdays, 9-5 more or less. Usually one day a week I visit galleries or try to do something else just to keep the juices flowing. How far away is it from where you live? It's about 4 miles away from my home in Los Feliz. I walk most days or take the bus part way. It's a nice way to start the day. How long have you been making art? I've been drawing and creating stuff all my life. I started showing art in 2001. In 2003 I left my career as a cinematographer to pursue art full-time. What materials and tools do you use most? Wood panels, ink, X-acto knives and scribes. I draw a lot, so pencils and paper, also lots of coffee. What's a typical day in the studio like? When I arrive I take care of the housekeeping, cleaning up any mess from the day before and getting ready for whatever is planned that day. If I'm prepping any panels (while also creating a new work) I'll take care of the prep first (sanding, inking, etc.). Before scratching a piece, I always take some time to look at what I've done and think about where I'm going with it. Often I see new things in the work that I didn't see the night before. Then I dig in and start scratching, usually for hours at a time. I take a break for a box lunch and a little time for guitar playing now and then to relax. Sometimes I get to a point in a piece where I have to stop and stare at it for a while and let it work on me before continuing. Even though I usually make a small pot of coffee, by late afternoon I'll go to a coffee shop for an espresso drink and sketch. I sketch a lot at coffee shops and get some good ideas there. Often I surreptitiously sketch the other customers. I switch to decaf in the afternoon. What are you working on lately? Right now I'm busy trying to get an entirely new body of work together for a solo show next year. In particular, I'm working on a large piece, an interior space with a nude. Who comes to visit you in the studio? Usually, I'm visited by artist-friends. Sometimes gallery owners come by. The majority of the time I'm alone working. What is the best thing about your studio? It's fairly roomy and I love the location. I'm right on Hollywood Blvd and have a view of the Hollywood sign from my window. It's a second floor space, so I can watch the world go by and still have the privacy I like. The neighborhood has lots of people and street life, which makes for a nice coffee or lunch break. What is the worst thing about where you work? There's no heat, cooling or plumbing. To clean brushes I have to use the small sink in the shared bathroom down the hall. Not a big problem, but not convenient either. The north exposure keeps it a little cooler in the summer and sweaters help in the winter. What do you want to know about the next studio artist on SpyMart? What do you do for relaxation or to get artistically stimulated? Visit David Trulli on the web: www.davidtrulli.com. myspace.com/davidtrulli. robertbermangallery.com.