59
thePeorian.com
do what inspires you without
thought of profit. That is how
most artists are wired. My favor-
ite projects have been those that
bring no financial gain.
What people don’t know about
selling art is that it’s a differ-
ent animal if you want to make
money. I have found that you
have to give people what they
want to buy. I hate that the words
even come out of my mouth, but
the cold hard truth is you have to
create what people want.
I paint with my hands mostly.
The artist that I admire most is a
hard question. I would have to
go with Picasso. Not so much on
the style of work, but the body of
work. Long productive life, cre-
ative innovator, and didn’t seem
to be stuck on himself.
The painting of the row of
flags began as with most of my
paintings; I was walking down
the street and could visualize the
painting. I usually take a few ran-
dom photos in a circular overlap-
ping pattern then go to the studio
and sketch out a pedestrian view.
I was born in a hospital – I
think it was Methodist
Peoria High School was a time
that I just tried to survive. It
scares me when I start feeling like
that guy again.
My greatest splurge is going
on vacations. I love to go, see and
do new and different things in
different places.
I think our kids are generally
happy with the way things have
turned out. I really didn’t start
painting and doing shows until
they were older.
If I could start life over I would
make sure that I was at the Palace
Theater on February 18, 1977 to
watch Embryo.
My favorite food at a Peoria
restaurant is the sesame-seared
tuna at Seven – far and away the
best food in town!
On weekdays you’ll find me
behind my desk at Mitchell Fab-
ric Inc. I’m the operation manager
for my real job that helps support
my passion in art. It has been the
best place to work. I don’t think I
would have been as active in the
arts had I not settled here. My
employer, Mitchell Favus, was
instrumental in introducing me
to the Peoria Art Guild, which
guided me to where I’m today.
The things on my bucket list
include hiking across the Harbor
Bridge in Sydney; cruising the
Mediterranean (October 2014),
then Europe; and, of course,
finishing painting all the Major
League ballparks.
When I retire I will get to paint
a lot more and hope people still
want to buy my work. I will re-
ally need the money then!
