Bio

Every child is an artist… the problem is staying an artist when you grow up. – Pablo Picasso

My love for art started when I was a child. Six homemakers, including my mother, visited my elementary school after they had received training on six different artists at the Toledo Museum of Art. They talked about Van Gogh, Seurat, Monet, Picasso, Whistler, and Homer, and I was fascinated by their stories. They shared details of the artists' techniques, the history of the time, and what inspired them to paint. From that day, I wanted to be an artist.

Later, my interest in politics grew in a turbulent period with Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. I combined my two passions and pursued a career as an editorial cartoonist. I was fortunate to get my work published in newspapers like the Findlay Courier, Toledo Blade, BGSU News, and UT Collegian. I graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which combined my majors in Life Drawing and Painting, with Political Science and History.

After graduation, I needed to find a job, and after much consideration, I went back to school to study Advertising and Marketing. I started my career in the same field and have worked in it ever since. I got married, had children, coached soccer, and for thirty-five years, I didn't paint anything except my house.

I have decided to fulfill my lifelong dream of being an artist as I head into retirement, after the urging from my wife and children. During family vacations, I would often walk the beaches of Northern Michigan and take photos with the goal of one day painting what I saw and sharing my enthusiasm with others. While in art school, I used to create loud and angry paintings to express my views. Now, I paint landscapes to express the happiness that I have found throughout my journey.