Before I found photography, I drew, perhaps following the seeds from my Uncle Frank’s illustrations.  I went to Catholic Schools until college.  There was very little money in the curriculum for art. This ended up being a plus.  I was so driven to draw; in grade school, I always made elaborate cover pages for every project, I participated in the Science Fairs, and I always received praise for my artwork (perhaps more so than for the project itself…).  I became known for my drawings of Snoopy characters, and an edgier fellow known as “Rat Fink”.  Kids even paid me a nickel for each drawing.  I decorated skateboards and book covers.  In high school I did lots of posters for events and was always involved in set-designs for the school plays.  I did menus for restaurants and even caricatures at a convention.  Still, our high school had one, single art class… taught by a very nice nun, with no teaching experience and potentially less artistic ability.  Once I got to college, I would find my way.  

It was 1969, and just about everyone I knew, went to college.  It was expected, and the draft deferment was a plus.  My academic aspirations were not high.  I spent perhaps too much time playing cards, chasing girls, and skipped too many classes.  In my off hours I was a fledgling musician… a drummer.  I still play in a band today. Drumming did not enhance my college career, but it added another facet to my creative side. I sampled every art medium class the college offered:  woodcut, etching, dry point, and lithography. Then I took a series of courses in drawing, sculpture and ceramics under a very talented German artist, Klaus Ebeling.  We bonded over my art ambitions, and he gave me a tremendous amount of advice… mostly about art, but also helped me understand some important things about life. 

It was the end of my sophomore year and though I didn’t know it, I had come to one of those forks in the road….