When I was very young, I remember picking up a pencil, and I drew a famous Walt Disney character. My mother wasn't surprised as to how well it turned out. The talent ran in the family. My mother had an amazing gift, which she did not exploit. Instead, she chose to raise five children. Not an easy task when you're a single parent. She did however, convey to me how important it is for me to follow my dreams, and not let my talent go undiscovered.

For years, Mom tried to convince me to let go of the pencils, and to give oil paints a try. I was too scared of the medium... The mixing of linseed, and turpentine, and different colors, seemed all too long a process. And not to mention all that drying time! What a waste! Instead I decided to give inks a go, and to this day, I still love to take out my Windsor & Newton series #7, my inkwell, and a loose sketch I've done of a favored comic book hero, and fill in the fine black lines that make the drawing complete.

In the summer of' '99, Mom fell terminal ill. I had to paint... For her. I did. I took Mom's old paints and brushes out of storage, and I painted the bluest sunset seascape. (Mom had those blue eyes that looked like ocean water.) She loved it, the way I was able to capture the look of the rolling waves. Mom died proud of me. After that, I ran with it, so far that it consumed me to great depths I never thought possible. To understand the nature of oil paints, Mom would explain, you have to play with the colors. Mix them. The textures, the smells, and the pigmentation of different colors are a wonderful addiction when you blend them. Unfortunately, there is no way to explain what it is like to oil paint. Understand that I am blessed with a talent that can allow me to choose what ever medium, and master it. I chose oils, because of the emotion , and the very life it brings when creating an oil painting, that not inks, water dyes, nor computer art can bring.

Because having all the talent in the world, can make for a good piece of art work. But it's the emotion and passion that makes for a great piece of artwork. Mom taught me that. Thank you Momma. I have not even begun to scratch the surface, but what I have done, I've done for you.

02 13 00 miss you! Lots & lots!