While in Junior high, I took all the art classes that were allowed, and enter
all the exhibits that I could. One of my drawings caught the eye of a
professor at the University of Texas, and I was invited (along with a hand
full of other students) to take art classes there during the summer. The
experience was a wonderful one, to say the least. It was at this time I
started working in oils. A another life long love affair was born. In high
school at S.F. Austin , I continued to exhibit in any show I could. And took
any class even remotely related to art. From drafting, to photography, to
working on the school news paper and literary magazine. Any where I could
share my art. I even joined the school art club. By now my artistic tastes
had moved onto Picasso, Magrette, M.C. Escher and Dali...and this was
reflected in my artwork. In fact two types of art were born during this
time. One of the more traditional art and subject (landscapes, portraits,
animals and such) and one of exploration on the subliminal side...a thinking
type of art- if you will...And to this day I still alternate between the two
types of art.
In the late 70's and early 80's I did a bit of traveling and would show my
art where ever I could. From Battle Creek, Michigan to Midland Texas. It
was during this time that I started to exhibit my artwork in restaurants. Most
notably a series of land scapes that were commissioned by Pizza Inn in
Austin.
When not actually working on art, I would sometimes take jobs to help pay
the bills that were somewhat art related. From being a bill board painter to
working as a Jeweler. In 1987, I exhibit more art in California in a little
gallery in Boulder Creek.
In the early 90's I did several exhibitions (either group or solo). Also, I was
getting more corporate commissions. From a Christmas ornament design for
The University Co-op, to T-shirt designs for Office Depot and H.E.B., among
many others. During this time I was a member of the Austin Visual Artist
Association and Austin Graphics Society. I also did volunteer work for the
Save Our Sculpture program that was going on nation wide at the time. The
program was sponsored in part by the Smithstonian Institute. Besides these
organizations, I also donated several paintings to KLRN (the local PBS
station), which were auctioned off on t.v. And also I donated work to the
Save Our Springs organization that was fighting to save Barton Springs
creek in Austin.
During a trip up to Washington State,(in '92) to visit a brother, I was part
of the art exhibit at the Shelton County Oyster Fair. Where a drawing of my
mine won honorable mention.
During this time also I had the great fortune of meeting some of my favorite
celebrities, who own my work. Chuck Jones (of Warner Bros.), Jane Goodall
(the world famous anthropologist) and Cassandra Peterson (a.k.a.:
Elvira-Mistress of the Dark) to name a few.
From 1996 through 1997, I lived in San Antonio Texas. While there, I work
as a docent for the San Antonio Museum of Art. This was a wonderful
experience because I got to see up close and personal, works by the great
masters. While there I wrote, illustrated, and published a hand book on
Ancient Egypt (which makes up two of their galleries). The handbook was
sold to the other docents to help in their training.
