JAZZ! Native American, Asian, Cuban, Mexican, oldies

A Gracious Plenty, Private Acts, Points of Light, Painted Lives, Mean Spirit

The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mirror Mask, Au Revoir Les Enfants, Mama Mia, foreign films with a dark side.

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Born and raised in New Jersey I took off to find the world at 18 and joined the Air Force.(that was a LONG time ago). Got married, moved to Tucson Arizona, got out of the military, got divorced, came out, went to college and graduated. I spent 27 years in the ungodly heat of the desert. Although it is a dry heat, when you walk out of your house, you walk into the heat of an oven.

Ahhh, but I fell in love with the color, passion and the life breathed into the art of the Southwestern cultures. Dia de los Muertos is my all time favorite celebration. I participate in the processions, I attend the celebrations when I can find them, erect an altar in my home and my art revolves around it. Tucson, the people there and the cultures I fell in love with will always be part of me, in my heart is where it lives.

I have spent the last 5 years in Iowa in the ungodly cold and deal with tornadoes now. It was a culture shock for sure, both in climate and culture. I reside with my super supportive partner and our two kids (11 and 17) (our oldest (21) is on her own working full time and attending college full time).

My grandfather took me under his artistic wing when I was very young and taught me about depth, composition, perspective and shading. He was very supportive of my creativity as was my grandmother. Although they passed away many years ago, I still miss their influences and am grateful for the help they gave me in terms of art education.

I am basically self-taught having attended a few college courses here and there, but never "degreed" in art. When I grow up I would like to be a successful artist with a thriving art business.

I am currently the market manager for Day of the Dead Market on 1000Markets.com, I am an active member of "Boomers and Beyond Street Team" on Etsy.com and have a shop there: http://vanfleetstreetdesign.etsy.com

art (of course), music, gardening, conquering the computer! a good jazz piece, great salsa music, great mariachi music, writing, driving, creating

Self-centered self-serving people, dishonesty, racists, closed minded people.

playing guitar and gardening, making videos for YouTube, computers