I grew up on a dairy farm in southeast Wisconsin, one of nine siblings.Hula skirts were made from unraveled baling twine, dolls of holly hock blossoms and buds, paper mache Halloween masks using outdated Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel newspaper, and Snoopy statues made out of snow instead of snowmen.
A kindergarten crayon drawing of living in the Candyland board game, showing fingers on hands was the first of many that ended up taped to the kitchen wall. That practice continued through high school.
As life, marriage and children happened, I took art training when and where possible.
A few art classes were available at the community college I attended in Cloquet Minnesota, taught by an Ojibwa Indian. Then photography and printmaking classes at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis.
Living just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, I took advantage of graphic and industrial design courses at the local technical college. It was there that the struggle to “do your own thing” clashed with a market so focused on the Packers.
Moving to the east coast gave me the opportunity to take classes at the Delware Art Museum with Al Staszesky, who was mentored by regional artist, Ed Loper Sr. Both had been students at the Barnes Foundation.
Painting the color you see and a color relates to the color next to it are the only rules that Al would emphasis and would ignore pleas for more structured guidance. There was always an exception to a rule and that is pretty much the way I look at art now.
I have been honored to receive awards through Arts Unlimited as well as exhibited at the Neville Museum in Green Bay. Awards in acrylics as well as purchase awards from the Susan K Black Foundation in Dubois, WY and Pine Shores Art Association award in New Jersey.
My work is in the Jack Richeson, Jim Parkman and Raymond Kinstler collections.
