I had dabbled in drawing and painting most of my life. In high school I took art classes in summer school. I had one year of industrial drawing. However my focus in my education for a profession was foreign languages. When my two daughters, Debbie and Emily, were young, I volunteered to help in vacation Bible school. I usually helped as the arts and craft teacher. When I became a teacher in the public schools, I worked 20 years in Kindergarten teaching Spanish-speaking English language learners. I occasionally used drawing to convey the meaning of words that I didn't know in Spanish. I also trained my students to draw simple pictures and to mix colors.
I painted as a hobby now and then. I usually painted in oil on canvas or canvas board. I studied from television and tapes to build skill. I either hanged them in my home or gave them to friends and family as gifts. I also worked a little with sculpture and casting.
In April of 2008, I was just about to retire from teaching. My daughter Emily, who had been studying creative writing, asked me to illustrate a children’s book that she had written. With my experience in teaching young children, I knew the story was an excellent story. I set to work immediately on the sketches for the book. When they were done, I stopped. I realized that if I wanted to paint them in watercolor, I would need to improve my skills.
In August I joined the Hemet Valley Art association. I signed up for a watercolor class with Barbara Parish. Along with the class projects, also worked on painting the illustrations for the book. It was completed in early October of 2009. The book was published in November as Roger Meets Sam by Emily Stoh Illustrated by Judy Stoh.
I painted as a hobby now and then. I usually painted in oil on canvas or canvas board. I studied from television and tapes to build skill. I either hanged them in my home or gave them to friends and family as gifts. I also worked a little with sculpture and casting.
In April of 2008, I was just about to retire from teaching. My daughter Emily, who had been studying creative writing, asked me to illustrate a children’s book that she had written. With my experience in teaching young children, I knew the story was an excellent story. I set to work immediately on the sketches for the book. When they were done, I stopped. I realized that if I wanted to paint them in watercolor, I would need to improve my skills.
In August I joined the Hemet Valley Art association. I signed up for a watercolor class with Barbara Parish. Along with the class projects, also worked on painting the illustrations for the book. It was completed in early October of 2009. The book was published in November as Roger Meets Sam by Emily Stoh Illustrated by Judy Stoh.