Maybe that's what I've based my career on: getting up earlier than everyone else so I get an extra couple of hours.

Maybe that's what I've based my career on: getting up earlier than everyone else so I get an extra couple of hours.

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

I think there were some programs but in those days art programs were kind of basic. You would do drawing and simple collage type work. But at home I was beginning to get interested in doing my own thing as well. I'm not sure what inspired this, but I became very interested in decorating things.

It was only when I got to high school and was in the art program that my artistic talent was recognized. The art program was directed by a wonderful and a very important person in my life - Charlotte Ranger, who was referred to as Mrs. Ranger. She had been teaching in the school for many years.

Experience is the best teacher. A compelling story is a close second.

I was engaged in all the required courses of math and geometry, but the area that I blossomed in was the art program.