Moments of self-satisfaction occur when I am able to work in the highest creative sense. Abstract thinking and abstract art, abstract anything excites me. While responding to an assignment, the pure creative thought, and then the research, sketching and layouts are when I lose track of time.

Also, while teaching, with any age group, once I have gotten everyone settled into their materials, and outlined the assignments, I step back and feel the pure calm of creative energy. The intense silence of a room full of people who are preoccupied with creative work is joy to me.

The same feeling of bliss occurs when I design advertising, or when I am working as Creative Director on a marketing project at the beginning stages (it quickly turns to something else once the technical aspects begin)!

I am a special events speaker in elementary, middle and high schools where I describe my career as an artist, illustrator and designer to students. I inspire students to have the courage to follow their dreams and that it is possible to "make it" as an artist. I show them art in everyday applications from packaging to t-shirts, to CD covers and advertising as well as my fine art and illustration. Art is everywhere.

I also enjoyed working on my "BERT & I for KIDS" book. It allowed me to develop an expressionistic, simplistic style of painting and to combine it with my graphic art skills in designing the whole book.