Q: I understand your dad was from Ontario, Canada and your mother was from Tennessee. How did these two cultures influence you as an artist.

A: We travelled so often between countries that I developed this odd British/Canadian accent with a Tennessee twist.  My voice made me stand out as foreigner in both countries. I didn’t really see this as a bad thing growing up,  after all I was from an artistic family so being different was an asset. It did however separate me from my peers and travelling was disruptive.

Here is a picture of my brother Jeff and I on the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. The bridge connects the United States and Canada.  I used to think that if we stood in the middle of the bridge, we would be home.  I’ve loved bridges ever since.

No matter where we travelled my grandfather in Tennessee sent art supplies.  Drawing was portable and soon become my past time.  I thought of myself as an artist/journalist/explorer, sent on assignment to document the lives of my dolls, the animals on the farm and in the woods, and the performers backstage where my dad worked.

In the picture below, I am off stage experimenting with paint. This particular theatre in Nashville had barrels of powdered paint in every color and I was allowed to try them out. I think my dad, the director was trying to keep me busy during rehearsal.

This play turned out to be the first integrated play in Nashville. At the time there was a lot of controversy and near riot on opening night.  As far as I remember, it was a success-- but  I only saw the play from backstage. Ironically, I remember this as the time I learned to mix paint to create new colors.

Here is a picture of my grandfather in the 1940's with one of his cartoons. He dressed up to go to his studio each day and my grandmother made painters smocks to go with his suits. His house and studio were the same size and were beside each other. I knew someday I must have my own studio.