About

It is, as I imagine, traditional for the “About” section of an artist’s web site to include their background of education, accomplishments and philosophies with art.  I can provide a slight-of-hand with the first two and offer a deeper dive into the last, focusing on what ignites my creative process.

An initial education began as a small child through the world of television.  Cartoons and children’s programs directed me towards the desire to recreate the world on paper.  My first lesson occurred while lying on the floor hands on chin and eyes glued to a children’s show as they explained how to draw a monkey’s head after sketching the outline of a peanut.  By age 6 I had my premier commission with the sketch covering a hole in the bathroom door.

Throughout childhood I continued to doodle, receiving rotating exhibits on the family refrigerator door interspersed between Christmas photo cards and shopping lists.  Life as a young man limited my graphics work to an occasional middle or high school project while doodles filled every margin of my classroom notebooks.

With the encouragement of family and friends, I received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from St. Michaels College, in Vermont, with hopes of becoming a graphics artist.  Employment took a different turn and art became a vocation, a blessing, and a state of meditation.

Art has afforded me additional gifts other than the act of creating.  These gifts include:

• An awareness that “the eraser is as important as the pointed end of a pencil” (helping me to soften the self-judgment when making a mistake) often leading to unintended outcomes, which are better than what was planned.

• That there is a conversation with the creation, the start often weaves its way to unforeseen outcomes.

• In relaxing with the details or as one teacher once told me “they will never see it from Main Street” (this bigger picture view has helped me take a step back when slogging through details of projects).

• Looking vs Seeing.  When “looking” at something I just glance without appreciating or understanding what is in front of me.  In “seeing” I attempt to recreate while actively examining and feeling what is in front and inside of me.

• In the humility of knowing that others play a role in my creation: the person who stretched the canvas, those who made the paints and brushes, another artist who brought inspiration, and the world and unseen guide that quietly whispers in my ear “create”.

• When I give or sell a creation I am giving a part of my soul away that hopefully brings joy to others.