A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE ARTIST

1. What do you do when you’re not making art? (Day job etc…):

We live on a farm, so there’s always things to do like walking back the lane to the sugar bush with our dog picking wild raspberries along the way or cutting firewood in the fall and sitting with our cat by the fireplace visiting with my wife, Mary Ann. A traditional highlight for over 10 years has been backpacking with my son, Allen and my brother and his kids at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

2. Why do you make art?:

Art was just a natural way to have fun as a kid. Then, somewhere along the way it became the approved way to have fun as the “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” of life increased. Now, my focus is enjoying life first and seeing what shows up in my art as a result.

3. What inspires you?

Lately, I’ve really been enjoying watching NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts and KEXP concerts. It’s also fun seeing David Hockney’s cheerful smile in an interview about van Gogh as he says something simple and profound like, “You can’t be bored of nature, can you?”

4. What/who are your influences?

Really, it’s my closest family and friends, the closest being my wife, son and parents. But, even closer than them, is my own inner being.

5. If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?

It would simply be the next person I meet. But, I do find myself wanting to meet with my artist friends who I haven’t seen in a while like, Helen Bayley, Thomas Tucker and Jerry Lyles.