I was born in Washington DC just after the war (not the Civil War) and grew up in Maryland. I began oil painting in high school and continued to paint after the Army drafted me. (I had a mini studio in the barracks.) Later, in 1970, I took one art class in college. That was the extent of my formal art training. By then the urge to paint had been replaced by other creative interests: writing, photography and music. I pursued these with earnest for about 50 years. I started a bluegrass band. Worked as a writer/editor for several companies/colleges and freelanced for many newspapers and magazines, including The Washington Post. The desire to make art returned when I joined my wife, a retired nurse, at art & craft shows where she sold her Southern pine needle baskets and leather bracelets. I displayed a few new paintings and was surprised when they sold at a 2019 event. I was now inspired to make art again. But paint what? I realized the wisdom and patience gathered over the years allowed me the freedom to relax, have fun, and paint whatever subject in any style I wanted with the hope that others might enjoy my whimsical view of the world. The Earth is a serious place. Let's smile and laugh more.
