I was born in Crawfordsville [in Montgomery County], Indiana-in 1951…I spent a lot of time with one of my grandfathers, an aunt, and uncle-in the summers, mostly…My grandpa built farm fence all over Montgomery County, and I helped him…My aunt and uncle live on a farm along Big Sugar Creek, not far from C'Ville…I went fishing and hunting-including for fossils, and artifacts…I learned to love, and revere the woods, the Wild, and Nature in general…

My mother encouraged me in my artistic pursuits…She was proud of my work…

My mom worked for various firms, as a secretary…my father was a teacher, and became principal of North Central High School in Indianapolis, from which my sister Cheryl-and I both graduated…Cheryl always supported my artistic inclinations…She became a registered nurse…My parents sacrificed to send me to college…To this day, I wonder why I did not pursue an degree in Art…I am sure I would be better at it…

I have taught German/earlier Social Studies in Alexandria, Indiana since 1974…Gerry and I have five grown children, and three little grandchildren…Gerry is a Special Education teacher…She was born and raised here in Alexandria…

I was an exchange student in Germany during high school, and college… I have coordinated student/school exchanges for many years. Traveling a bit in Europe, I have seen some of the " Great Masters' " works…My favorite Classical Master is Albrecht Duerer…I often hide a "hare/rabbit" in my pieces, to, in my own way, honor him- for his - "The Crouching Hare" [ in German= "Der Hase"] has always impressed me…

Sometimes I just choose an animal or plant-whatever to paint, sculpt, or draw…Other times, I try to render a more complicated composition-perhaps to attempt to " teach" something, or which , I believe to be thematically /symbolically significant…

As a kid, I had turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, rabbits, chickens-all kinds of pets…I even raised some orphaned raccoons my uncle found along his rural carrier route…

Gerry and I feed the birds, attracting them to our yard…Bear is our dog…Shadow, our cat…Our finches are Zeb and Zack, and our new parrot is called Sweet Pea…Our menagerie keeps us busy…

While I pursue works of animals. of the woods/trees, I have also always worked at Native American themes…We love the West, The mountains…the Southwest…

I am an above average portrait artist-in pencils and pastels… My media are multifarious…I work in color pencils/watercolor pencils, and graphite pencils a lot…I also work a bit in pastel, and acrylics…paper mache, cardboard, and wire…wood, feathers, hides/hair…gemstones, minerals…also just rocks, clay, sand and dirt…Often, I try to use "trash"-aluminum cans, plastic bags, and other trash-all cleaned!!!...I also utilize dried plants, and onion skins…

I also write poetry, and thus, have some poetry on the site …Some of the poems accompany the art…

Gerry is my best friend and critic…SHE is the one who must tell me-"It is finished…Leave it alone…"…She also puts up with so much…My materials strewn all over the house…My piles of reference books, magazines…

I have several "pieces"/works of art on exhibit, and for sale in Atwood, Illinois, in The Village Craftsman…an Amish furniture, craft, and art shop… Ask to speak with Lori Schlabach-a tremendous portrait artist… In Crawfordsville, several of my pieces are on display at The Homespun shop…ask for Sheila…

Till now, I have not exhibited much at all…Twice we have exhibited in Clarksville, Missouri in the Mississippi, during their Big River Days…But our house is small, and we do need to "get stuff out"…