I was born and raised in Culver City, California. I drew as a kid, always illustrating something in school. As an adult, I received a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, with a minor in Art Education, from the University of California at Northridge. Drawing and ceramics were 2 of my favorite mediums to work with. I taught art with grades 1 through 8 for 5 years. I entered the Peace Corps in Jamaica in 1974 for the next 3 years.

 

I have been a teacher for 50 years, spending most of creative time with students. I have taught single subject, multiple subject at elementary level, and Special Education at the upper elementary level. I always seemed to spend more time motivating kids to create than I did myself. 

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September 1999, I moved to The Big Island, Hawai'i. I continued teaching until June 2014, when I semi-retired. I kept teaching through subbing for 3 more years. 

 

I drew here and there, mostly small studies but never anything substantial or major for the past 35 prior to 2018. I have always drawn with graphite pencils, never in color, until now. I had great difficulties motivating myself over the years, creating something that had any meaning.  Instead, I have spent those years in a classroom teaching. Even though I did not complete any personal art pieces, art was an integral part of classroom teaching, as a subject, but mostly a way to visually depict what was learned.

 

On May 3, 2018 a major volcano eruption occurred just one mile, down the street from my house and lasted about 3 months. During that time, the images within this site came to me and the motivation to bring them to life from seeing, feeling and hearing Fissure 8 every day and night. So much introspection resulted in finding the driving desire to draw. I have not stopped with drawing since, always working on a drawing, and keeping several images in my head for future pieces.

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