At the age of 38, life was great. A long marriage, 3 beautiful kids - I had it all figured out. I had control and knew everything. HUBRIS was my friend.

In an instant everything changed. We unexpectedly became grandparents at 39. I had a heart attack. Next came the horror of my youngest son dying in a car accident at 16 - another heart attack. I knew nothing and had control of nothing. At 42, hubris was replaced with HUMILITY.

I spent the next several years searching for calm from the storms - the cliched “meaning of life”. Both my parents and my grandfather had died by the time they were 50. I was counting the days until it would be my turn. SURVIVIAL was no longer assumed.

But then at the age of 50, my life took an innocuous and unknowingly profound turn. I began to carve wood sculpture as a hobby. People would complement my work and then began to purchase it. My confidence grew and I ventured into painting and mixed media. I sold my landscape business and became a full-time artist. I had never been to a gallery in my life and never had an interest in art. Suddenly, it was everywhere, and I wanted to try it all. It became my passion. It helped me through the impending doom I believed to be my fate. I found my voice and resumed my journey in my art.

The subjects and materials in the art I create are my REBIRTH.