Biography - About Me

I was born in Galt, Ontario, child six of seven. A couple years later we moved to a farm in Rush Cove, near Lions Head in the Bruce Peninsula, and that's where my memories begin.

We had the typical barn and sheds. We had acres of hay fields and forest. We were on the Bruce trail and only a few kilometres from the Georgian Bay coast. The landscape was rugged and beautiful and awesome.

My rugged environment had an impact on my being. I love being in nature, and need it in my life at times to feel healthy. My experience of landscape at various times of the day and year is imprinted in my soul.

We moved to Kitchener when I was nine. I spent summers on my sisters vegetable farm in Breslau. Marianne always had a painting on an easel that was in production. I remember the smell of the oil paints. I remember her art on the walls.

I went to Eastwood Collegiate for high school. It was my local school, and also happened to be in the process of becoming an art centred school. I had three great art teachers, Mr. Heard, Mr. Haisoch, and Mrs. Kobayashi (Mrs. K). I especially remember Mrs. K fondly. She instilled in me the love of art history. We discussed the Group of Seven. She introduced me to the work of Ken Danby, whom I still admire. She introduced me to oil paint. She told me that I had what it takes to be a professional artist. Thank you Mrs. K!

During my teens and even now I study illustrated art books. I tend to gravitate to the 1600's thru the early 1900's European material. I enjoy the art history and even the biographies.

I dabbled in creating art as an adult. Always had a piece on the go. Even though it was a background activity I always identified myself as an artist. I would also like to give a shout-out to a local artist, Mike Roth. I attended his drop-in art classes regularly for a time.

Now as an older adult, I decided that creating art would become a central pillar of my life, and I am building my new existence around this premise. I began to draw in a serious fashion. As I did I felt I needed a theme. I needed a larger story to build my artwork in. I was working on "Stuart McLean" at the time. He had recently passed away and I felt a loss and wanted to commemorate his life in a way. It turned out well, and at this point I decided to do a series of "Great Canadians". This was a natural fit for me and I'll tell you why. Ever since I can remember I have been a proud Canadian. As a teen a friend of mine asked me why I was so all-about Canada, and I was puzzled by the remark. At the time I just thought everyone around me felt the same way I did. It then dawned on me that the sentiment came from my parents. They didn't teach Canadiana into me per se. It was more subtle. It was the stories of their youth that did it. My parents grew up in "occupied Holland" during world war 2. They struggled to survive. They were there at the grave end when the Canadian Troops liberated a starving and desperate country. My father acted as a local guide to the troops to help navigate the area. It was this incredible part of history that brought us as a family to live in Canada. It is this act that has rippled into my being through stories.