What is your medium now? (oils, acrylic, pastel, watercolor...) What medium have you always wanted to use, but haven't yet? What mediums have you used in the past? Why do you prefer your current medium?

My favorite medium right now is oil. I have used pastel, acrylic, gouche, pen & ink, and pencil but I always come back to oil. I like watercolor with a pen & ink finish, but for serious stuff it is always oil. I like the glorious color one can get, they don't change or fade. I like the control of the medium, the ability to change anything at any time with little effort. I like the ability to paint with a knife. I like to feel the paint and watch the painting change as the light comes across the room.

When did you first want to become an artist? (And when did you realize you were one?) Did you draw or paint as a child? What were your subjects?

I first knew I wanted to draw when I was 8 years old in the 3rd grade. We had Art every Friday - all afternoon. I lived for Fridays, got some attention and made good grades. I loved anything presented by the teacher. I realized I was going to become an artist when I went away to college to major in Fine Arts.

Are there any other artists in your family? (including all the arts)

Yes, an uncle, a cousin (Professor of Art in Iowa) and a great aunt. All of these related on my father's side. My nother was creative in many other ways and I have nieces and nephews in creative careers.

How do you feel about art education - the value of a college degree, attending workshops, etc.? Art School versus a liberal arts education? Which path did you follow?

All you can get is my thinking - college, workshops, lessons - whatever. There are great artists who do not have a college degree, but a degree will open a lot of doors, and gives one a very strong background and base for all phases of Art. It comes in handy, too if you want to teach when painting sales are down.

Where do you find your greatest inspiration?

It has to be from natures colors and compositions. I do like portraits inspired by a special face with strength and charachter. The glory of autumn, the mood of winter, the feeling in an old street, the story in an old farmhouse, the mountains, the valleys, the rivers, sunsets, ocean waves...inspires anyone to want to paint!

Do you have a favorite art quote that inspires you? (tip: go to http://www.painterskeys.com/ for art quote source)

"ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS" meaning "Art is long, life is short". A quote carved into the facade of the Art Building at the University of Iowa, which I read every day. Our Art will live on longer than we will.

Which art books or art magazines do you turn to for inspiration?

I have 300 or more books covering all phases and types of art - old and new. I like especially the Impressionists.

What is your favorite color, and why?

Red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, chartreuse, turquoise, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, colbalt blues and greens, ultra marine, sap green, yellow ochre, Van Dyke brown, Naples yellow, magenta, viridian, cerulean blue, rose madder, umbers and.............all of them!!!

What hangs on your walls? Do you collect the work of other artists?

I would love to be able to afford a collection of artists, especially WSLP artists. What could be better than that? Unless I hit the lottery I will have to be content with my own - on the walls, in the halls, under the tables, and under the beds. Quite a collection!

What might we want to know about you that may or may not be related to your art?

I was a puppeteer for many years. It was related to art somewhat. It was certainly creative. I painted all the backdrops (forests, rooms - whatever), sculpted all the puppets, wrote the scripts, did the voices (each one different). Over the years I met a lot of famous people. I met and got to know Jim Henson, Bil Baird (have their autographed books) and I'm still good friends with Bob Brown and his group - well known puppeteers in the D.C. area. I did puppet shows for Caroline Kennedy's first grade group and met Ted Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, Caroline and John Jr. I even belonged to "Washington Puppeteers Guild" when Jim Henson belonged, he was just getting started in this area.

It was fun, but it was HARD work. I still have a lot of puppets and it did help to supplement my painting income.