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The Story Behind the Paintings
First off , let me say that only a small number of the paintings that were done in those years are shown. Those shown are the ones of which I have photos. At least ten times this number exist, but they were not photographed due to: 1. laziness. 2. no camera. Which leads to: 3. location, location, location. In many cases the paintings were done on the road. Traveling in Mexican buses. Camping in a tent. Working at sea, painting in small spaces when time allowed. Setting up a photo opportunity was not part of the routine. 4. Sales. Often, and I say this is in all false modesty, the paintings were sold almost as the paint dried. I did not stop to say, “Hold it. I have to set up my camera and record this. It will only take an hour if I can find the damn camera.” I needed the money at the moment, more than the possibility of fame in the future.
Second off, THE GAP. The astute viewer may notice that the years of production are mostly continuous from 1973 to 1989-90. (Any gaps during that time are due to #1 through 4 above.) The time of this writing is 2004. That leaves a gap. A 14 year gap. Those were the years I served as the director of a program concerned with turning high-risk youth into happy, productive people. I loved the work. I gave all my effort and creativity to it. I was rewarded many times over. I have never regretted it. However, I did no art. I assisted with the design of cardboard sleds, helped with the construction of beautiful kites, told wondrous campfire stories and instructed in the ways of canoeing wild rivers. But painted and sculpted not. Thus THE GAP.
The Paintings: 1973: 1974: All were painted while at sea on the S.P. Lee, a research ship for the U.S. Geological Survey based out of Redwood City , California . I was the ship's carpenter and as such, was allocated a small space for tools, etc. with a desk and a chair which made the process of painting easier. 1975: 1976: Still in Telluride but taking many trips to the desert.
1979: 1980:
1986: Telluride. 1989-90: Post-divorce and making the transition to working with kids. See THE GAP above. 2001-03: Living in Norwood , Colorado . “The Artist...” says it all . “Approved Heart” refers to the joy of complete recovery from a 9-03 heart surgery. Recent is where all new stuff will be added as it occurs. Stay tuned.
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These watercolors were all done on a trip through Great Britain , doing interpretations of the scene there. The one-legged seagull was done in a hotel room in Edinburgh while watching a bird special. 
All painted while living back home in Telluride, Colorado . The “Down Tie” lead to the actual creation of a down tie, a nylon blue tie filled with goose down. The product was picked up by PLAYBOY magazine as an ideal Christmas gift, and the resulting sales allowed me to live a year without working. The good life. The impulse to make the ties a reality, based on the painting, came to me as 
I was crewing on a tugboat going from San Diego to Anchorage, Alaska. The Gulf of Alaska was not kind to me. I decided that there had to be a better way to make a living. 
“Christ in the Back Row....” referred to the wonderful refurbished Sheridan Opera House in town. “Madame Gabardi” is a portrait of Telluride's last living madam. She was a fixture walking the streets, telling stories in the bars. 
At the time I was serving as a deputy marshal in town as the need arose. The need seemed to arise often since the marshal liked company. The painting “ Shooting Gallery” comments on this. 
The paintings this year show this plus the Approved Bathroom and Sink paintings show the cracks of cabin fever. “Sinking Slowly...” illustrates a friend who was in the business of real estate and was doing just that: sinking.... 
All Mexico , pure Mexico . I lived in San Blas, Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allende. 
Had a leather case made to carry all the art gear. Traveled by public bus, carrying it all. It didn't seem to be a hassle then. Now I wonder how I did it. 
The number of paintings this year is due to the fact that I saved them all during travels in order to have a show back in Telluride. Thus I had the opportunity to take photos. Unusual. 
Still lots of Mexico and desert influence. Spent the winter of 1979-80 in Santa Fe . Took a month long camping excursion to Big Bend in Texas . That shows in these paintings. 
Telluride and then Denver , Colorado while trying the normal life on for size. It didn't fit. 
Denver still then back to Telluride, the 8 to 5 routine ended forever. “Young Man Gets the Word...” expresses it. I started doing sculpture also at this time while in Denver . 
