Since I was a child.

Yes – a Bachelor Degree in Painting & Printmaking from San Diego State.

I have been a working artist for 50+ years.

Life and the interaction of people within it.

No – I like it very quiet when I paint.

Rex Brandt was my mentor for many years before he passed.

I don’t paint every day, but I do draw or sketch concepts or ideas every day.

I go outside to sketch several times a week and paint in my sketchbook, but for larger pieces I prefer to work in the studio.

I often have several paintings going at once, which allows me to get away from a piece. They aren’t quite as precious if I have several going.

I have 3 core colors – Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose and Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) – but I usually have 18 colors in my palette. I love to mix with red, yellow and blue, and I love stain colors for the first step of my painting, then I’ll add others.

Tube colors are in my larger palette and pans are in my travel palettes.

I stand it up next to other finished pieces. This usually tells me if it’s done or still needs more punch.