Most artist statements begin with "ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be an artist." Well, you'd think that after I won the East Rochester Volunteer Ambulance Corps Ham Festival Dinner Poster Contest in 7th grade, I would have clearly seen my future career path, but I didn't. Although I was always making stuff, painting, designing clothes, knitting, making jewelry, etc., my career took some long detours before I became a full-time artist, including seven years of studying Chinese and a 30-year career as a graphic designer. However, at each fork in the road, I turned more fully toward painting — toward what I love.What do I love about it? I love the possibilities of a few new tubes of paint, a handful of good brushes, a blank canvas, and the glimmer of what I hope might be a promising idea. Of course, then comes the hard work - all the decisions. Pale or dark? Thick or thin? Loose or tight? Flat or dimensional? Edges? Patterns? Lines? Textures? Shadows? Each painting is the accumulated result of a thousand decisions. What is my process? Don't ask me; all I know is that I love being up to my elbows in it.