Early life chaos successfully kept my artistic impulses in check and nullified my attempts to get a “formal” education. That said, many people told me that my talent was undeniable, and art became my “crutch” during difficult times. Buoyed at last, for 28 years, by a stable personal life, it got me exhilarated to get down to work and round out my meager credentials by enrolling in college courses, studying, touring museums and, most importantly, rubbing elbows with established artists, my long-time friend and mentor Jeanne Lachance, the primary player.