Tell me about yourself, where you live and your
background/lifestyle.
I drew constantly as a child and was always in trouble because of it. Unfortunately, I drew in books, on desktops, walls and even sidewalks. No scrap of paper escaped molestation by my constantly moving hand. I had a secret stash of pencils and ball point pens just waiting to be launched into use. I was warned repeatedly to stop "doodling" but couldn't quit no matter how hard I tried.
There was a woman, who lived down the street from us when I was a kid. She indulged in strange public tirades and it was rumored that she hid under her kitchen table during the day. People said her peculiar behavior was typical because "she was an artist." (Now, of course, I realize that this sad soul suffered a debilitating mental illness.) Anyhow, if anyone called me "artistic" or even suggested that I take a course in art, I was insulted and my family humiliated. I convinced myself that I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. I actually went into nurse's training and lasted two (very long) years. I worked after hours for a few doctors drawing diseased kidneys and the like, for their medical journals. If I hadn't had my "drawing fix" I wouldn't have
lasted two minutes! I was definitely not cut out to be a nurse.
One Autumn day, I was on holiday from a watressing job, and sitting in a crowded but picturesque spot, drawing people on a tablet of writing paper. Tourists were buying my drawings and I had amassed quite a wad of money. A local businessman complained to the police that I was working without a license and taking away his business. The policeman approached me from behind, grabbed me by the shoulders, and jerked me to my feet. He said something like, "you artists have got to learn. . . " and Bingo! A light bulb went off in my head! I
really was an artist. It never occurred to me before that exact moment!
After I paid my fine, I immediately hopped a train to Boston, called the first art school I found in the train station phone book and enrolled that very day. The director of the school admitted me after looking through my drawings (I was still clutching that tablet of writing paper).
Needless to say, I was in heaven but had some serious catching up to do that first year in art school. (I didn't even know that paint, for example, came in tubes!) When I graduated I made my living as a commercial illustrator and graphic designer.
Who first influenced you artistically?
Shortly after I signed up for art school, I visited an art museum for the first time - The Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I stood in the section with the Old Masters and began to cry. I had no idea that human beings could paint
like that! Because this was in "the bad old days" when abstract expressionism ruled, I was forced to become "closeted" in my love of the Old Masters" (because I didn't want the ridicule of faculty and fellow students.)
What first attracted you to the Internet?
I adore gadgets.
Does the Internet allow you to show your work as you would like: How could it be improved to suit you?
I love the Internet and the concept of having an open gallery 24 hours-a-day appeals to me. I find "word of mouth" to be my best advertising venue but would like to think that the internet will someday bring me business from afar.