In the beginning, my drawings and paintings were about things I wanted to see, places I wanted to go. Then came a day, they became the memories of places I’d been, places that touched me. Now I get to throw in reliving special moments with the people and places that once gave me so much joy. Not a bad way to grow old. Welcome to my passions: present, recent past, distant past, and those early expressions of longing and emotion. My visual, “letting it out”.
Teenager
I was a senior in High School in 1970, heady times for a rather quiet kid still trying to make sense of it all. This piece made it to the state art show and was deemed to be “drug oriented” by three old ladies who kicked it out of the exhibit. I had peace rising thru drugs and the flag rising thru the haze of violence. Oh well, my art got me noticed, and helped me make friends. I have no doubt that without art I wouldn’t have made it through High School.
“Take Me Home”
In 1971 I graduated and almost immediately heard John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads”. As soon as that little convertible Austin Healey Sprite was up to it I took off to see those Blue Ridge Mountains. I was captured, the world changed. I had beauty, wonder, music and a sense of belonging. On one of my first trips I took my younger teen age brother and my five year old brother. I painted this view of the White Oak Canyon falls. When done my little brother told me he had on red shoes that day, so I changed it.
Dreams come True
In 1973 “Rocky Mountain High” came out, I bought a VW Bus and took my first of many adventures out West. I did a detailed sketch of this shortly after my “Alex In Wonderland” moment. Started this painting in 1979, left for Yellowstone, stayed, and didn’t touch the painting again until about 2003. I got it out while hosting a painting module for teenagers. About ten years later, actually teaching an art class I finished it. It only took about 35 years, but started me on all the dreams I chased in between.
