He asked me two questions. The first was would I allow him to teach me to paint? The other would I like to travel the world living where people go on vacations? I couldn't, so I said yes to both.
He sold my first painting on April 21, 1990 for $200 and before the year of 2001 ends collectors will have purchased over three million dollars worth of my original oils. I illustrated 47 major Medical books and was given the prestigious 'Top Illustrator' award five of the nine years I entered. Not one of those medals can compare to the first painting I ever sold. I have joy unspeakable. We have lived at exotic places with views you see only on post cards. My paintings splash out the beauty across my canvas like the Maui sunsets we witnessed together many evenings while living on that garden in the middle of the Pacific.
My life is completely flipped over. I like to say he turned my life right side up. The little birds stopped singing for me when I was three years of age. Sexual abuse by my biological father stifled out the normal childhood beauty and filled my days with ugly and bitterness. The bad start continued on through with an abusive, alcoholic, woman-battering husband. My days were about to come to a halt when the tall, broad shouldered stranger walked into my life. He gave me hope and a reason to live. He took my hand and showed me the past was not my fault, that I had no power over the adults who robbed my childhood happiness with their sickness.
When I met my mentor, mate and number one supporter the birds began to chip...almost twelve years later I feel like I am living in a songbird aviary. My life is filled with the music of happy birds and I join their joy. My work speaks the volumes of elation I never was allowed to express as a child. I have a reason to live; I shout it in color every day as I step to my easel.
A more in-depth bio can be found in the Millionaire article on this website.
