Charles Burchfield was exceptional. As such an accomplished artist, he had limited previous association with academia and teaching.

There's always an important person who helps support your interests and encourages you.

I was there [in school] the full time with one teacher, and the student body was never more than 10 or 12 students of all ages.

I was always kind of naïve, and really needed to be given some direction.

At home, the radio was a big source and the classic radio programs we would listen to like Amos and Andy and whatever other ones there were.

In terms of any sacrifices at the time [of World War II], I was somewhat protected living on a small farm where there was food, different perhaps from living in a city environment. I know such things as gas rationing did exist, but it wasn't anything that interfered with my daily activity.

I think I was really naïve. I had no context to think about what I wanted to do. Each step was a next stage of exploration.