I was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks in Aurora, Missouri, a town located in the southwestern part of the state. It’s a beautiful area with picturesque towns and farms set among rolling hills, which are crisscrossed by many rivers and contain a large number of magnificent lakes. These rivers and lakes offer some of the finest fishing and boating in all of North America. Those areas of the countryside not cleared for farmland are covered with an amazing variety of trees and other vegetation, which are filled with an almost unbelievable abundance of indigenous animals and birds. The towns and farmsteads contain wonderful old homes, barns and other buildings that provide nearly limitless opportunities for artistic inspiration. I try to create drawings, paintings, carvings and other sculptural creations that embody my love for the environment and view of life that I was so fortunate to have grown up with.