My
brain made me an artist. I blame it.
My Grandfather
taught me how to draw and make things out of wood. He was almost
blind.
My
mother loved that I was an artist. She died in 1988. She was very
funny.
My teachers
and fellow students saw me as 'the artist'.
I never
considered being anything else, ever.
My
father allowed me to pursue what I wanted. He is almost 90.
I have 2
degrees in art, a BA and a MFA. I emphasized printmaking, drawing,
and photography.
I taught
Beginning & Figure Drawing, Design & Color, and Art Appreciation
for 9 years at the college level.
I have had
1 one-person show, 1 two-person show and numerous group shows. I
won some competitions, some grants, awards, etc. I have been published
in some magazines, newspapers, etc. (see shows/publications)
My work
started out in grad school as photo-realist drawings. I liked the
photos better by themselves so I started doing photography and photo-collage
on its own.
I
continued to draw and paint, but from live models not photos, with
imagined narrative imagery behind the portrait.
I
also started doing some commissioned photo-shoots; black and white
portraits and figures.
I left teaching
and went into computer art. I moved, along with my family, to Oklahoma
to get my first job in that industry. I created Educational CDroms
for kids, and that led to Internet Design.
I
stopped creating large scale works or exhibiting my work during
an 11 year period in which I worked and helped raised my 3 daughters.
I did, however, continue to create a large amount of artwork on
a small scale, including the napkins.
When my
youngest graduated from High School my plan was to re-enter the
art world as a practicing, exhibiting artist, which is what I am
now doing. I am currently a full time independent artist, photographer
and web designer. MAKE Studio is my business.
In
2006 I fell in love with and married a wonderful woman, Linda. With
the support of her and my 4 daughters (added an exceptional step-daughter
in the marriage) I am continuing on my chosen path.
That is
what this is 'about'.
