A Summer of Teaching and Creative Regeneration

I begin writing as my summer of art, teaching, and creative regeneration is winding to a close. Yet, even as this season is ending, another is on the horizon. My appreciation for the beauty and the wonder of life has deepened. And I have a stronger commitment to creating value in the lives and the environments that I am connected with. I hope to make my most significant contributions through my creative activities, community involvement and mentoring young artists and poets.

It has been a wonderful and new experience to teach at French Woods Festival, a large co-ed summer camp that operates for twelve weeks in the Catskill region of New York state. The emphasis of French Woods is on fostering the creative talents of young people, ages 7-17. I am pleased to have had this opportunity to be part of the French Woods vision.

From the first week of June to the present, I have been the lead teacher in the Drawing and Painting Division of the Visual Arts Department. My focus has been on creating a studio arts environment and an instructional program whereby campers receive personalized instruction and are provided opportunities to work from life, explore media, and increase their skill levels.

In September, following the close of the camp season, I will be returning to northern Virginia. The autumn months will be filled with activities related to working on a new series of prints and on re-establishing and recreating my art studio--to include adding a printing press.

I will begin this next season having been inspired by the many experiences and people that have recently come into my life. Additionally, I will be returning with the sparks of newly kindled ideas and works that I have created this summer in my "studio in the Catskills".