I am a retired 74 year old Colorado native and reside with my wife in a modest but well tended home in Pueblo West, Colorado. I was an artistic child but never pursued that talent and went the direction of one of my other talents, vocal music. I was a choir director in our local church for several years but brought home the bread and butter by way of a career in machining for 34 years.

I never had any formal art instruction or study but I am self-taught. I never stayed with any particular painting style but I enjoy painting landscapes, animals, birds and florals using oils or acrylics. I paint with a realistic touch, as I am very impressed by those who can paint something to look absolutely true to life or realistic, and I believe it takes an extremely talented person to do this. I had hoped to reach that point some day. My artwork was usually applied on stretched canvas but have painted items on wood, stone, metal and leather.

After retiring at the end of 2003 with a medical disability, I pursued a longtime interest and talent in woodworking and started doing woodturning on a lathe. In retirement you can find more time to spend on things that were so long set aside. I also joined a local AAW (American Association of Woodturners) club and only wished I had started it years earlier.  I discovered that my artistic abilities coupled with many years as a machinist had proven to be most valuable. To my surprise, I was  able to project a creativity and an ability to do well with my hands in this new found art. Friends told me I was able to produce woodturning pieces that were on the level of the little more advanced in this genre. 

After years of enjoying woodturning, my doctor told me my diabetes was advancing and must get off my feet or lose my right leg. I sold all of my woodturning tools to friends. I also developed shaking in my hands and could no longer paint.

I now miss all of the things I used to do being a creative soul. I spend my time now sitting at my computer maintaining the the church's web site and creating each Sunday's worship presentation using Power Point. My wife and I enjoy working in our church as a Deacon and an Elder. I also enjoy singing in the choir and our men's quartet.

If you like or are touched by my paintings or woodwork in any way, please send your comments or critiques to my email address: dananddonna@comcast.net .