“My medium is watercolor, almost exclusively, though I also do some drawing. I say that my style is not hyper-realism, but realism. It’s definitely not abstract. I love colors, so I’m always pushing the colors and pushing contrasts.
I’m very proud of being where I am today in capability. I started late in life as far as being a watercolorist. I didn’t seriously even consider the fact that I might enjoy doing art until I was in my 50s. I was well into my 50s when I said, ‘If I want to get better, it’s going to take time and it’s going to take diligence and I’ve got to get serious about it.’ I never really went to school for it. I bought every DVD – or VHS at the time – and read everything I could get on it. I talked to people and I went to art fairs and shows. I’m self-taught.
In the past 10 years that I’ve been serious about this, I’ve won numerous awards. Granted, they’re all at a regional or local level, for the most part. I’ve won a couple of honorable mentions in international contests. I haven’t gone big time, but I’m very happy with where I’m at.
The experience of being a creative in Goshen has been a good one, overall. I’m pretty much a loner; I’m not so much a joiner. I’ve talked to and met with members of both the Elkhart Art League and the Goshen Art Guild. I think they’re lovely people, and they certainly have extended themselves on my behalf.
When I first moved here to Goshen, it was without knowing anybody. No one. I found that literally within days, the community was reaching out to me. I had posted on Facebook; people were following me. I wasn’t even aware that people knew me, but people knew me here in Goshen. That was a really good feeling.
I’d like to do more shows now that I’m more established and more settled in. I’ve only been here four years. I’m looking forward to it this coming year, for sure.”
