I was born in Ogdensburg, NY, and raised in Tupper Lake, NY. If I was ever given “the gift of the spirit,” it was being nurtured into adulthood by the hardworking people in Tupper Lake. The community and my parents cared for, looked after, supported, and educated me in my schooling. Being creative was one thing, but being an athlete taught me the discipline of how to embrace failure and to keep working hard toward goals. Without this continued interest in me, I might not have developed the drive to recognize any gifts I may have been given.

 My ideas for paintings come from many sources. I may have lived the experience or told the story. There are paintings that actually tell me what the title should be. New ideas are lying in wait in music, romance, and emotions… things I may not really be aware of at the outset.

I do believe that you, as the viewer, and me, as the painter, will never make a match unless the breath of life is present. That spark must lie half-awake within each of us. My work and you must come together. I believe that if “it“ happens, it will be like love. I have no doubt that some chemical reaction actually does take place in our brains. Maybe it’s a “wow” moment.

Transparent watercolor, as a medium, is never a sure thing. It has a mind of its own and can only be controlled in limited ways. I often find my best work in the actual manipulation of the paint. I’m often surprised, but I shouldn’t be. Creativity is supposed to be that way. If it weren’t, it would never be called creative.

 My resume…

I graduated from Tupper Lake High School in 1960 and Ohio Northern University in 1964, where I received a B.S. in Art Education. Over the ensuing years, I have been elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame at both schools. Without a doubt, the lessons I have learned in athletics have provided me with the discipline it has taken to achieve goals as a teacher, coach, and artist. I am extremely proud of these honors. I have done graduate work at Syracuse University, SUNY at Cortland, Brockport, and Potsdam College.

While a student at ONU, I received many art awards in student shows and served as a student assistant for four years in the art department. I also received a Lima Art Association Award while a student at ONU.

I have taught art at several schools, including Morrisville College and NY Empire State College, and served as an adjunct professor supervising student teachers for St. Lawrence University. The majority of my teaching was at Lowville Academy in Lowville, NY, where I established a program that received a great deal of recognition throughout the state and on a national level.

In the school year 1991, my seniors were awarded $385,000 in art portfolio scholarships, and I was thus awarded an Art Recognition Award for my outstanding contributions to the field of Art Education by Pratt Institute in NY City.

I have received commissions through the Ray Jackman Gallery in Tupper Lake, NY, and Gallery One in Findlay, Ohio. My work is exhibited in many private collections, and I have displayed work in several one-man shows in the past forty years.

 My paintings have also won awards in juried shows. I continue to produce and sell work from my established art studio in Lowville, NY.

So my final word on all of this is about the American Indian who believed he only cared for the earth… he never believed that he owned it. I’m going to keep caring about my stories in paint, and I would be so pleased if you and I meet someday… in front of my paintings.