Vern graduated from San Jose State University with a BA and an MA in art. In addition to his successful forging classes for UCSC Extension, he previously taught forging and toolmaking through Cabrillo College (Aptos, California) for 15 years. With a total of 18 years with Cabrillo, Vern was also an adjunct instructor and teaching assistant in the Cabrillo Art Department. Vern has been teaching forging classes for UCSC Extension for over 10 years now. His classes are held in his private studio located in Santa Cruz, California.
In addition to being an artist and teaching art classes, Vern spends time working in his studio on his collection of old cars. His current project is reconstructing his 1933 Ford that was severely damaged in a fire. Plans for the body reconstruction of the 1933 Ford are still in progress but Vern plans is to convert the 4-door sedan into a 2-door roadster, which he has named "El Ranchito". To see the reconstruction, click here.
Vern has one daughter in Arizona, Tina, who created this web site for him. Tina takes after her father and is also an artist. She sells a line of personalized and Hand painted pottery through her business and web site called Little Miss Arty Pants. To view Tina's web site, click here.