Biography

I was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1946
Graduated from Fairmont High School, Kettering Ohio, 1964
Attended Northeastern Christian Junior College, Villanova PA,
1965-1967, Received an A. A. degree, 1967
Attended David Lipscomb College, Nashville TN, 1967-1968
Pulled a hitch in the US Air Force, where I maintained autopilots and compass systems of B-52s, KC-135s, C-130s, and A-7s, 1968-1972
The Air Force employed me as a civilian Electronic Technician at McClellan AFB near Sacramento from 1973-1999. I did a depot overhaul on aircraft landing systems (Glide Slope, Instrument Landing Systems, Marker Beacons), aircraft radars (MRN 7 and 8, MPN 14), and satellite communication systems (AFSATCOM). I was the lead technician on a system which communicated with missile silos. This system required me to operate automatic test equipment, a computerized work station which would remove integrated circuits, and become certified to solder under a microscope.
The AFSATCOM shop was one of the computer shops on base, so after working with and on Air Force computers, I bought an Amiga (video and graphics) computer for artistic work. After the PCs became competent in the early 1990s, I began building, repairing and using them. There was a distinct advantage to working in a shop where 7/8s of the people had computers. It made learning a lot easier, as someone had seen almost any problem you could describe.

Artistic Resume

Began painting landscapes with my aunt, Lucy York, 1969 or 1970
Moved to Sacramento CA, and studied art with Abe Nussbaum, 1973-1984
Attended Sacramento City College, Sacramento CA as an art major, 1975-1977
Attended California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento CA, 1977-1979.
Received a B. A. degree in art, 1979
Taught private drawing and painting classes 1976-1981
Studied bronze casting at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland CA, 1982
Attended a Marble Carving Symposium, Marble CO, 1991
Studied clay figure sculpture at American River College, Sacramento CA and
attended private classes in clay figure sculpture, Auburn CA, both taught by Carol Kooi.
Began designing web sites in 1998. They suit both my creative and technical needs.
Worked as General Manager of the Art Foundry, Sacramento CA, 2001

I've seen a lot of stories about artists that began, "I liked to draw as a kid." Have you ever seen a kid who didn't like to draw, or whose kid drawings were works of art? Rembrandt's kid drawings probably looked like any other kid's drawings, because he had not become "Rembrandt" yet. Art is a form of communication, and a person must have many interpersonal relationships before they produce art. A work of art is a combination of the artist and sitter. Both must bring something to the process.

I drew as a kid, but I really began doing art while in my twenties and stationed in California with the Air Force. I visited an aunt in Sacramento CA, Lucy York, and watched her paint landscapes, a couple which are pictured below. I did the dishes one Sunday evening so she would have time to paint. She said the light was the wrong color, so I copied a landscape letterhead on a 5 x7" canvas board. I bought paints and have been at it ever since.

After I got out of the Air Force, I returned to CA to finish a B. A. degree, and learn more about painting. I asked who was the best art teacher around, and was told it was Abe Nussbaum. I obtained his phone number, and began lessons. He taught me to draw. I did a Canadian lynx before I went to Abe, and worked on the drawing for two weeks. After some lessons, I did a cougar in about two hours. After several years with Abe, I began teaching private art lessons for several years.

I work in many mediums, depending upon the needs of the subject. Each medium has advantages. Oil paint gives the best portrayal of skin and depth to a painting. I like the silvery greys of pencil drawings, and the rich darks of compressed charcoal. Pastel has pigments that do not change over time like the oil varnishes. Prints produce a multiple that many people can own and can be sold cheaper than paintings. I have done etchings and lithographs. I prefer the tonal qualities of lithography. Sculpture is fun to do. I have done stone carving and cast bronzes. The bronze is another multiple, so more people can own one. I set up a backyard foundry in an old barn, and cast bronze, and worked in a foundry.

Modern computers can help artists a lot. I have been involved with them since the mid-1980s. Current hardware is very fast, and there are programs available for virtually any purpose. Scanners, video or digital cameras allow input, and the high quality of current printers allow output. One can produce a business card, letterhead, price lists, advertising material such as fliers and brochures, training videos, and keep records in a database. Such things had to be done by a graphic artist and a printer several years ago, but now an artist can make their own and print as necessary. This eliminates the $2000 brochure and 990 copies sitting in a box with old illustrations on them that you don't want to show. An artist always likes to show their new work, and self-publishing lets them change pictures and print a new item.

Programs are helpful with color, design, and values. An artist can make all the changes they want on screen. Color matching software makes the printed product very close to what is seen on the screen. Three dimension (3D) programs allow for design of sculpture, to insure there are no bad angles. Painting programs allow experiments with contrast, color, edges, etc. All of these help the traditional artist to produce a better product.

All these varied interests work together to make me a modern Leonardo Da Vinci. My knowledge of one field proves helpful in another, and I have a lot of fun with all of this.

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