inspiration
I was raised on a small family farm in central Iowa. My father was an airplane and helicopter mechanic; my mother a homemaker. Mother strongly encouraged art and culture, sometimes letting me play hooky from school so I could go with her to museums and art related events. My father, a veteran, was a jack of all trades. He could fix practically anything and if he didn’t know how he would keep trying until it was fixed, busted, or he was bleeding. Both of my parents always told me I can do anything if I put my mind to do so. Since we didn’t have much, we were encouraged to use our imaginations and be creative. My home was a wonderland. I could roam the fields, climb trees, or explore dark barns.
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I eventually moved to southern California and settled in the beautiful city of Altadena. My father passed away in the summer of 2016. He was my hero, my ultimate inspiration. He taught me how to create and how work, and that work can hard but you never stop trying. He and I were the last of our family to live on that farm, it had housed five generations. Our souls will always be connected to that place no matter how far we go.
