The arts have always played a big part in my life. And in saying that I've never been able to narrow things down to one discipline and stay with it. Most would think this a draw back but I like the fact that it leaves a lot of possibilities open either to mix together or fall back on. If the drawing and painting were at a low point the music would take over. Sometimes both are at a high point and that would explain my lack of any social life. Ive been doing things in the arts since I was a kid but I don't think I excelled at it until after I left college. For some reason I believed that I had to prove myself because I didn't have the safety net of school. In my art I've been inspired mostly by people who do pictures that are of a journalistic nature. I like pictures that are clear and honest in their intent. Although there may be some hidden meaning the true and basic content is plain to see. I also enjoy doing the figure. In my case the male figure. Being a man myself, I believe I'm able to express my environment and my feelings through these figures. Some have mentioned that it might be best for me to do women so I might become more acceptable to the arts community but, I'm a terrible liar. For me to say I know how it is to be a woman would be a lie. So, doing that for acceptance isn't an option. From time to time I like to do non-representational art. I think of them as colour fields. They help to loosen me up and to experiment with colour. Musically, I've been torn between pop and traditional electronic/ experimental music. I grew up on pop but always found that I like it best when it took a new direction. When I was a boy I had access to a piano at a church. There I would play whatever I cam up with and record it with small tape recorder. At times, I would place the tape recorder in different areas of the large room where the piano sat. I would record myself playing and listen to how the sound changed with the location of the recorder. I would call it "playing the space. Perhaps it was my own version of ambient music long before the popular term. I began recording pop and experimental music in college at a small studio we had there. I continued to take classes and record music there until it closed in 1992. By that time I had a small set up of my own which I add to every chance I get. Happily I collaborate with several other musicians who have studios so between us all we can put out some pretty nice sounding things. I do experimental and pop music because both serve a purpose of expression in different voices. I have recorded several experimental pieces over the years and in pop terms I have recorded over 14 "albums" of pop songs. Roughly 200 songs or so. I started work in television some 25 plus years ago. I got a job as a cameraman after college and took over as art director a few months later. I always loved film and thought I'd like to work in some aspect of it. I was a tv-a-holic when I was a kid and being a bit of an outcast in a small North Dakota town TV was a kind of friend. I guess it should be of no surprise that I ended up working in that medium. As my job progressed the art director title had many hats. I was a prodution videographer and graphic designer for the station. Now days I edit, for the most part but, I'm still called upon to direct commercials and do graphic design for my station and others owned by our company. Throughout the years I've been able to use the stations equipment to produce half hour videos and small music videos. Some have been seen at stations around the US and a few have made it into showcases such as the Film and Video Showcase at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I continue to look for new videos to produce outside my work at the station. Even though they are few and far between when they do come along it is always a good time and I look forward to them. Personally, I'm single. That could be due to my involvement in all of this, as I said before. My friends say it's because I live in North Dakota. I have a tendency to agree. As much as I like this state it is not the friendliest place for guys like me. But, like a bad marriage, I stay with it until something else comes along. Sadly, I have no dogs or cats as the landlord doesnot allow. I will have both cat and dog as soon as I can find a place to have them. I love popular culture and I have been known to get obsessed with things of that nature. So, in closing, the arts have carried me through my life quite nicely. They are my companion and until someone comes my way, they are my lover. I've been told that I have a certian style that you can instantly recognize. I guess that, in it's own way, makes my work successful.