by Sandra Miller
Back Bay Sun
A collection of paintings in the upper floors of a Copley Square real estate office displays scenes full of sexuality and betrayal and murder. It’s like life ripped from the tabloids, or today’s soap operas, but these stories were told centuries before as entertainment.
“These stories are crazy,” said artist Nicholas Abraham. He says it a little too enthusiastically, until you realize that he is a rare breed of music lover: the opera fan. Abraham is happy to talk about his 30-piece series of 20-by-24-inch oil paintings, which opera aficionados will recognize as scenes from such classics as “Carmen,” “La Boheme,” “Madama Butterfly,” “La Traviata,” “Tosca,” and “Tristan and Isolde”.
He’s done portraits of performers like Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carrera and Placido Domingo, and composers such as Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner. But Abraham, 67, is not only an artist - he is a multi-millionaire real estate developer who came late to the art world.
He liked to draw when he was in school, but Abraham put that aside to build a career developing properties around Boston and New Hampshire, and raising a family. “I have wanted to paint since I was 8 years old, but being a father and husband, I wanted to send my kids to college,” he said.
At 60, Abraham bought a condo in Naples, Fla., and had some time on his hands. But when a bum knee ended his golfing hobby, he didn’t know what to do. His wife reminded him about how much he had always wanted to paint, and in the spring of 2002, he picked up some art supplies and taught himself how to paint. “I was really bad,” he said. “I thought it would be so easy.”
But he persevered, and studied impressionists such as Manet, Renoir and Degas, studying brush strokes and other techniques. He kept challenging himself, and eventually developed a style that’s compared to Matisse, Modigliani and Picasso.
Abraham is another kind of artist, too – a jazz musician who has toured the country playing drums. His musical curiosity eventually led to studying classical music, and then he was floored by the beauty and grandeur of an opera by Puccini.
“I said, ‘My God, that’s very moving,’” he said. It took him 10 years to truly understand opera, figuring out what he liked and didn’t like. He found he favored Italian operas. “They are romantic, and melodic,” he said. “They reach into my heart and bring tears to my eyes. It’s such a talent and gift. I appreciate it because I know how difficult it is to do something so exceptional.”
And when they say “Do what you love,” Abraham decided to paint what he loved. “It was easy for me to combine my love of opera and my love of art,” he said.
He started painting famous scenes from the world’s greatest operas, along with their composers and artists. Initial reviews by opera critics have lauded his work. “Abraham brings to the 20-by-24 linen canvas color, action, mood and a sense of excitement that conveys in its own right a sublime statement of what the artist feels,” said one reviewer at OperaOnline.us. “Its colors are vibrant; its characters, animated; its power, especially in ensemble, immense.”
He’s come a long way since his first painting, which, he said “looks like a child’s painting. I now see how I progressed, and I am amazed. I just stuck with it until I get it right.”
And when he thinks about it, he likens art to the world of real estate development. “Painting is not just an art, it’s a challenge. Commercially acceptable artists fall into a rut of painting what their customers want them to paint. All the great masters refused to fit into the mainstream. They weren’t even allowed to show their paintings in salons, because of their ‘deviant behavior,’” he said.
Like his painting career, Abraham started his real estate career with lots of elbow grease – literally. His father owned properties in Newton, and put young Abraham to work when he was 7, by pushing a hand-mower over the properties’ lawns. When he was 10, he graduated to helping maintain his father’s properties in Roxbury and Grove Hall, and later in Brookline. He began renting apartments and rose to managing construction sites. He had 16 years of experience before he went on his own in his early 20s.
One of his first properties was the Cushing Endicott House at 163 Marlborough St., a 10,000-square-foot mansion he converted to six units. He then developed 120 condos in New Hampshire, and in 1989, he bought the building his offices currently occupy on Boylston Street, during the height of the market then. “I bought it without telling my father. When he found out, he yelled at me, saying I’d lose my shirt; but I’m still in the building, and it has risen in value.”
Abraham took a career detour, as a trial lawyer for 20 years, while serving as the family business’ lawyer. His father took some of his money and invested it in property. When his father became seriously ill in 1986, Abraham retired as a lawyer and took over the properties his father managed.
He also owns several Stor-Gard self-storage units, the Wal-Mart shopping center in Walpole, and he is now developing warehouse units in Northborough and Franklin.
He owns and manages a half-million square feet of property in Massachusetts.
He and his wife raised two children, Annise and Nicko, whom he made sure also went to work for his business when they turned 7. Today, Nicko is the company’s president.
“The key to be successful in any enterprise is in the love of what you do,” said Abraham. “You should have fun and be good at it, and stick through it until its successful completion.”
When times get tough, including with the current economic situation, he quotes a Chinese proverb: “Fire is the test of gold. Adversity is the test of man.”
He added, “When you need to dig down deep inside of you to bring out a successful results, it’s difficult. Sometimes, you don’t feel well but you have to dig down -- whether in marriage, bringing up children, success in real estate.” Or art.
He also works hard to keep his tenants happy, and has been known to rip up some leases for tenants who are struggling. “If they can’t get a loan in time, I’d return their deposit,” he said. “I’d rather give it back and say we’ll do another deal another time. Our goodwill we create is for a family business. I have children and grandchildren in this business and know how this will affect them in this business.”
He teaches his grandchildren about opera and art in his Cape Cod studio, using those vehicles to also teach about astronomy, math and other subjects. “They all want to be artists like their grandpa,” he said, beaming.
He wants the great opera houses to still be operating when his grandchildren grow old enough to appreciate it. His opera art will never be sold, he vows, but will go on tour to raise money for opera houses. “I didn’t paint these to make money for myself,” he said. The works will go on tour when he finishes his last two paintings, “Romeo and Juliet” and “Turandot” for a total of 32. “I’ll donate the use of the paintings for a month at a time, for exhibits, and for them to sell my cards, coasters and prints,” he said.
Limited edition museum quality prints are signed and numbered, and glossy coasters and tiles are available online through www.OperaArt.US.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Newbury St. business is the face of success with line of skin treatment
by Sandra Miller
Back Bay Sun
Dale Holman of Newton had been using department stores’ line of skin products for years, and she was so unhappy with most of them, she’d return them to the store. About eight years ago, she discovered the Skin Health line of eye creams, moisturizers, and sunblock, and said her face of a certain age has no lines, no wrinkles, no signs of sun damage.
“I think it’s the best line I’ve ever used, for quality and for results,” said Holman, a woman in her late 50s who appreciates the hypoallergenic aspect of the products, too. “The cosmetics from retail stores are hyped with advertisements. Ingredients are seriously diluted. Skin Health’s sunblock is absolutely outstanding - you never tan. I have absolutely no marks on my skin. My face has such a glow to the skin. That’s pretty unusual for someone my age.”
At the SkinHealth Centers, a team of physicians, facial cosmetic surgeons and medical aestheticians develop and provide cosmetic dermatology, laser and skin rejuvenation treatments. At the store, clients get an assessment of their skin’s needs. As part of the no-pressure sales team approach, customers can take home samples of skincare products to try before buying.
“It’s not a hard sell,” said Holman. “The department stores push products on you. People turn their judgment over to a saleslady who is on a serious commission. It’s not like that at SkinHealth.”
Apparently SkinHealth doesn’t have to push their products too hard, because of word of mouth that has been ongoing since the company was founded 10 years ago. SkinHealth clients include actors, television anchors and politicians and others in the public eye whose faces are a business asset.
Cheryl L. Clarkson, president and CEO of SkinHealth Inc., runs three stores, including one at 73 Newbury Street, and said business is so good despite the economy that she’s hired two more Harvard-trained doctors for plastic surgery and filler treatments, Drs. David Kieff and Dan Driscoll, to join Dr. Dan Townsend.
In this economy, she can keep hiring because business is steady, Clarkson said. “We have seen an increased number of people who feel they are trying to maintain their appearance because it’s a tough job market. Some of our clients have lost their jobs, while most are still working but are a little worried.”
Clarkson reports interest in eyelid surgery, which she says is safe, relatively inexpensive, and quick. “It’s something that doesn’t really leave any scars,” she said. “They can go back to work a week later and look refreshed, and no one is going to say, ‘Oh my God, you had eye surgery. It takes 10 years off, but people can’t put their finger on what’s different.”
They also do face-lifts, liposuction, tummy tucks and breast enhancement, performed in a hospital, with pre- and post-operative care provided at SkinHealth.
For her skin care products, Clarkson notes an increase in eyelash extensions, and a steady commitment to skincare maintenance. She’s especially excited about a few new products with enzymes, such as Vital Repair Enzyme Serum that helps repair damaged DNA.
“My products are just for those who want to look healthy and vibrant,” she said. “It’s not for glamour-pusses.
But what SkinHealth is best known for is its sunscreens, she said. “We have a robust mail-order business, to every state in the country. “My products are results-oriented. There’s no fluff and they really work.”
Clarkson at one time was a Fortune 500 CEO of three medical device companies. However, her world turned upside down when her only sibling, a 39-year-old Los Angeles journalist who wasn’t even a tanner, was diagnosed with melanoma.
To cope, she buried herself in research about her sister’s cancer.
“I quit my job to manage her care. We sought help from the best medical experts and the country’s best hospitals. We tried experimental protocols, but the reality was that her diagnosis had been a death sentence,” she said.
Melanoma is one of the few cancers on the increase, annually claiming more than 7,000 lives and ranks as the second leading cause of cancer death in women under 40. According to a recent report published by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, melanoma diagnoses increased by 3.1 percent a year between 1992 and 2004.
Leveraging her MIT MBA and her manufacturing experience, Clarkson collaborated with physicians and dermatologists to launch a sunscreen product line with a higher percentage of active ingredients than those found on the typical store shelf.
“I’m very committed to finding a cure for melanoma,” said Clarkson, who is on the Children’s Hospital stem cell research committee, and is one of the founding members of the Cancer Leadership Council at Mass. General Hospital.
And for every store gift certificate sold, SkinHealth donates 5 percent to Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center for Melanoma Research.
“I believe one of the reasons we’ve become so successful is that I have such a passion for it,” she said.
She also uses her CEO background to build a business that’s anything but skin-deep. Clarkson launched SkinHealth in 1999, and in 2005, Clarkson bought out her investor to expand SkinHealth’s national presence on her own. Her initial business model evolved into retail stores with skin care products, advanced skin care and laser services, and cosmetic medical procedures performed by physicians.
Today, SkinHealth products range from cleansers to moisturizers to advanced therapies to seven kinds of sunscreens – including one that was voted Health Magazine’s best sunscreen.
In the end, however, it’s all about the client.
Dale Holnan has been a customer for years, having laser skin treatments to remove acne scars without surgery, and wearing her sunscreen every day, year round. Her face is smooth, and others compliment her on her glow. In turn, she’s turned others onto the products.
And the best testament to any business is hearing a customer like Holman say, “My friends thank me.”
Back Bay Sun
Dale Holman of Newton had been using department stores’ line of skin products for years, and she was so unhappy with most of them, she’d return them to the store. About eight years ago, she discovered the Skin Health line of eye creams, moisturizers, and sunblock, and said her face of a certain age has no lines, no wrinkles, no signs of sun damage.
“I think it’s the best line I’ve ever used, for quality and for results,” said Holman, a woman in her late 50s who appreciates the hypoallergenic aspect of the products, too. “The cosmetics from retail stores are hyped with advertisements. Ingredients are seriously diluted. Skin Health’s sunblock is absolutely outstanding - you never tan. I have absolutely no marks on my skin. My face has such a glow to the skin. That’s pretty unusual for someone my age.”
At the SkinHealth Centers, a team of physicians, facial cosmetic surgeons and medical aestheticians develop and provide cosmetic dermatology, laser and skin rejuvenation treatments. At the store, clients get an assessment of their skin’s needs. As part of the no-pressure sales team approach, customers can take home samples of skincare products to try before buying.
“It’s not a hard sell,” said Holman. “The department stores push products on you. People turn their judgment over to a saleslady who is on a serious commission. It’s not like that at SkinHealth.”
Apparently SkinHealth doesn’t have to push their products too hard, because of word of mouth that has been ongoing since the company was founded 10 years ago. SkinHealth clients include actors, television anchors and politicians and others in the public eye whose faces are a business asset.
Cheryl L. Clarkson, president and CEO of SkinHealth Inc., runs three stores, including one at 73 Newbury Street, and said business is so good despite the economy that she’s hired two more Harvard-trained doctors for plastic surgery and filler treatments, Drs. David Kieff and Dan Driscoll, to join Dr. Dan Townsend.
In this economy, she can keep hiring because business is steady, Clarkson said. “We have seen an increased number of people who feel they are trying to maintain their appearance because it’s a tough job market. Some of our clients have lost their jobs, while most are still working but are a little worried.”
Clarkson reports interest in eyelid surgery, which she says is safe, relatively inexpensive, and quick. “It’s something that doesn’t really leave any scars,” she said. “They can go back to work a week later and look refreshed, and no one is going to say, ‘Oh my God, you had eye surgery. It takes 10 years off, but people can’t put their finger on what’s different.”
They also do face-lifts, liposuction, tummy tucks and breast enhancement, performed in a hospital, with pre- and post-operative care provided at SkinHealth.
For her skin care products, Clarkson notes an increase in eyelash extensions, and a steady commitment to skincare maintenance. She’s especially excited about a few new products with enzymes, such as Vital Repair Enzyme Serum that helps repair damaged DNA.
“My products are just for those who want to look healthy and vibrant,” she said. “It’s not for glamour-pusses.
But what SkinHealth is best known for is its sunscreens, she said. “We have a robust mail-order business, to every state in the country. “My products are results-oriented. There’s no fluff and they really work.”
Clarkson at one time was a Fortune 500 CEO of three medical device companies. However, her world turned upside down when her only sibling, a 39-year-old Los Angeles journalist who wasn’t even a tanner, was diagnosed with melanoma.
To cope, she buried herself in research about her sister’s cancer.
“I quit my job to manage her care. We sought help from the best medical experts and the country’s best hospitals. We tried experimental protocols, but the reality was that her diagnosis had been a death sentence,” she said.
Melanoma is one of the few cancers on the increase, annually claiming more than 7,000 lives and ranks as the second leading cause of cancer death in women under 40. According to a recent report published by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, melanoma diagnoses increased by 3.1 percent a year between 1992 and 2004.
Leveraging her MIT MBA and her manufacturing experience, Clarkson collaborated with physicians and dermatologists to launch a sunscreen product line with a higher percentage of active ingredients than those found on the typical store shelf.
“I’m very committed to finding a cure for melanoma,” said Clarkson, who is on the Children’s Hospital stem cell research committee, and is one of the founding members of the Cancer Leadership Council at Mass. General Hospital.
And for every store gift certificate sold, SkinHealth donates 5 percent to Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center for Melanoma Research.
“I believe one of the reasons we’ve become so successful is that I have such a passion for it,” she said.
She also uses her CEO background to build a business that’s anything but skin-deep. Clarkson launched SkinHealth in 1999, and in 2005, Clarkson bought out her investor to expand SkinHealth’s national presence on her own. Her initial business model evolved into retail stores with skin care products, advanced skin care and laser services, and cosmetic medical procedures performed by physicians.
Today, SkinHealth products range from cleansers to moisturizers to advanced therapies to seven kinds of sunscreens – including one that was voted Health Magazine’s best sunscreen.
In the end, however, it’s all about the client.
Dale Holnan has been a customer for years, having laser skin treatments to remove acne scars without surgery, and wearing her sunscreen every day, year round. Her face is smooth, and others compliment her on her glow. In turn, she’s turned others onto the products.
And the best testament to any business is hearing a customer like Holman say, “My friends thank me.”
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