"In the 1950's in grammar school I enjoyed art and kept many pieces upon which time and paper quality have taken a toll. In high school in the early 1960's, a teacher, Mr. Eby introduced me to contour drawing. Putting his chair on a desk and sitting on it he told us to draw him. It was fascinating. I was hooked on life drawing, and a passion was born in that classroom."

"I was most influenced by Horst Trave, another high school art teacher who was originally from Germany. He was part of the San Francisco Abstract Expressionists movement and an exhibiting gallery artist. He suggested I enter a city-wide competition sponsored by the San Francisco Advertising Agency, using United Crusade as the subject. A month or so later he announced to the class that I had won the first prize, $75.00, a certificate, and a lunch at the Garden Room of the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco. Seated next to me on the dais at that lunch was the dean from my school, a scary man who turned out to be really nice. Seated on the other side was the superintendent of San Francisco schools. $75.00 was a lot of money and it was an impressive lunch. The garden room was huge, elegant with a Victorian domed glass roof, and awe-inspiring."

"Flash forward to 1994 - picking up a catalogue for the open studio tours in Sonoma, I saw Mr. Trave was living in Healdsburg. Taking my yearbook and a photo of myself with the winning poster, off I went. While showing him the photo, he excused himself and disappeared for about fifteen minutes. When he returned he gifted me with the very poster. He had kept it all those years, amazing. He once again held an open studio in Autumn 2009 and is painting every day at the age of 91. (I am proud to say I own two of his works.)"

"My figure works hang on the walls and sit on shelves of many powder rooms in Gualala, Sea Ranch, Hawaii and the Bay area. Most people in the United States prefer something other than a nude over their sofa. When visiting my studio, you will find a huge clay foot by the front door. Figure sculptures, drawings and paintings fill my world. I am exploring uses for my photography, creating works from recycled items, and have created a new series of jewelry and framed polymer pieces that resemble leather."

"North Coast Artists Guild's Studio Tours affords a great way to visit artists in their studios and experience the beautiful Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts. My studio is nestled on a hill surrounded by Redwoods. Come visit, experience this incredible world of fresh air and sweeping vistas and visit all the artists who draw inspiration from their world."