Before we get too far into the story a confession has to be made:
this is definitely one of those 'been drawing as long as I can
remember' yarns. But please allow a slight indulgence or this
page has no merit.

Early on mom would bring rolls of scrap paper home for doodling
purposes. After dinner I would tuck a roll under my arm and slip
into the private sanctuary that was my room. Darkness would
envelope the room save for the soft, narrow glow of the desk light
- the transformation is well underway. The radio would be tuned
to a classic rock station (though frankly, I don’t think it was
considered ‘classic’ then). So with Fleetwood Mac playing softly
in the background and with little regard to time the pen would
take life. The once blank stock would become flooded with worlds
of heads. I don’t know, I guess I lost interest beyond the neck.
I would be lost in that world late into the evening night after
night, day after day. It’s been love ever since.

My post high school education consisted of Glen Oaks Community
College, Northern Michigan University and the Joe Kubert School
of Cartoon and Graphic Art. The majors were graphic art and
illustration. I was able to latch onto the school newspaper and
contribute a comic strip called Just Cruisin' which was based
on lifelong friends. Caricature has always been my natural artistic
slant. All attempts to draw life figures (or ‘real art’ as customers
utter as they sit for a caricature) leaned toward exaggeration.
Noses would have an inclination to intensify and eyebrows a
tendency to merge all to the chagrin of the teacher or model.
To this day, I get comments about 'looking amused' while drawing.
The view from my side of the board is amazing (heh-heh).

In the mid-1980's a spot illustration of the Statue of Liberty
for a local newspaper generated some interest. That front page
exposure prefaced five years of political cartooning. Three times
a week cartoons were appearing for two southwestern lower
Michigan dailies. First with the Sturgis Journal and then the
Coldwater Reporter. The wonderful part of the op-ed page
cartoons was the opportunity to caricature figures from the
world stage.

I've been whipping up caricatures since 1985 at craft shows,
private functions and as personal gifts. Why? Well, there is
nothing more rewarding than seeing that ‘look’ on a victim’s, er,
person’s face once their eyes have found the completed caricature.
To coin a term, it’s ‘priceless’. The sheer joy of meeting strangers
and converting them to friends equipped with only a few minutes
and a marker is magic.

Cartoon/caricature activity had slowed until recent years.
Marriage and the addition of children have taken their proper
place in regard to time and responsibility. But caricature is part
of who I am. With the assistance of the internet I've worked on
projects with fine folks from Alaska to Massachusetts and many
stops in between. Meeting people during live gigs is so
rewarding on many levels. Caricature, to me, is like a day at an
amusement park.

I only hope you’ll come along for the ride.

My wife, two girls and I currently reside in Lexington, Kentucky.