In some ways it was easy for me. I knew what I wanted to do with my life from about as early as I can remember. I wanted to be a painter like my mother before me. I don’t think it was intentional on her part, but as a small child she would take me with her to workshops and figure drawing classes. It was easier and cheaper than hiring a baby sitter. They gave me materials to work along with and as long as I didn’t make a fuss everyone was cool with the idea.

At 10 I was allowed to go to figure drawing classes. Imagine the impression that made on my rapidly developing artistic mind. My friends were sneaking looks at Playboy and I was drawing nudes from life!

      I started drawing everything l saw. I had the good fortune to have Lake Erie in my back yard and attention was focused on boats and water and sunset skies. In high school I was allowed to leave school early to paint. I knew that was an unusual privilege and I never screwed it up. Art school came next. As a young kid I was never able to find a school that would teach me the classic methods of painting and drawing. Maybe schools like modern “atilea” didn’t exist then. In the 1970’s all the rage was abstract expressionism, and they didn’t want to teach realism. I became disillusioned with art after 3 years of school.

   I drifted around then for years with regular jobs.

My break came in 1994. I had been working as a high-end finish carpenter, and got laid off. I was gifted 6 months of unemployment. I spent that time painting and by the end I was accepted by my dream Seattle gallery and have been making my living as an artist ever since.

   But the story would not be complete if I left out my other love. Sailing. So, in 2017 I prepared my boat for a multiyear trip. I am still drawing portraits and painting just smaller paintings that I can manage on my sailboat.

….. and that’s what brought me to this beautiful little town of La Manzanilla.