I grew up on a lake and have always been taken with nature. My dad would often take me to his downtown office and I would get so excited to be in the city. I think this is why Cleveland is so special, it is such a great city with a storied history. One can feel and touch that history. It is also set in a beautiful natural environment that we can easily access and use. All of these things are ripe for an artists interpretation. Cleveland also has a great artist community. There is very little competition between artists, on the contrary everyone I’ve met has been so supportive. I’ve learned so much from my peers. They make this a special place to be.