Beginning my Art Life

Coloring books preceded television in my life. I spent hours coloring every day.  In 1955 our family got a TV set. I was six years old and "Howdy  Doody Time" taught me how to draw. A special order had to be sent to the show to get a clingy plastic sheet to place on the TV screen. I followed along with a magic pencil as an image was drawn. It was boring but I suppose I learned something from the activity. 

I discovered when I waved my hand rapidly with open fingers in front of the screen I saw multiple trailing fingers. That was fascinating! I think it took the rest of the Baby Boomers until the "Summer of Love" to see similar trails.

In grade school, I was fortunate to be exposed to many forms of art. I had excellent teachers. In third grade, I loved the teacher telling my parents about my advanced understanding and use of perspective. My dad encouraged me by teaching me how to draw horses, monkeys, and parrots. He talked to me about 'line' and showed me various uses of light and heavy lines to define form.

I was thirteen when I got my first commissioned sale. It was a bait shop sign with a jumping musky. I got $50.00! That was a lot of money for a thirteen-year-old in the early 1960's.