I am an artist because I feel that I can do anything with paint, watercolor, ink, pencils, pastels, charcoal and acrylics. I knew since I was very young that I wanted to expand on my talent of drawing and painting. I love bringing objects to life on paper or canvas. I feel alive when I work on a project, when I can use my hands and my insight to create something. At the age of ten, I became interested in painting through a paint by number oil set that my parents gave me. A few years later, I ordered a course through the mail.

I look at art as realism without any words. With a stroke of my brush or a mark of my pen, I can express my emotions, bring out emotions in others, portray a certain culture or provoke social reform. In each piece of art there are different meanings for different people in every walk of life. I try to portray what I see is real in every piece that I do.

First and foremost, GOD influences me. It seems as though when I paint everything just comes together. Second, my parents never gave up on me. Even though money was tight, my parents paid for an art correspondence course from Art Instruction School of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Third, at the age of fifteen I was drawing and painting on my own. After learning the basics, I graduated in 1972 with a four-year degree in Commercial Art. Lastly, my surrounding communities contribute greatly to my success as an artist. Activities such as festivals, private businesses, government functions, and public art keep my artwork steadfast. With all that has influenced my life thus far, I am encouraged to continue painting. I paint landscapes, still life, portraits and wildlife. With each piece I gain experience. My ultimate dream, since childhood, is to establish an art school and paint full-time.