My dad, John, and I share a bond that goes beyond family, built through our parallel journeys as artists. We were both educators—Dad in IT/Telecommunications, and me in Music Education—and both of us found art to be a powerful outlet. Growing up, I remember watching Dad in his studio, carefully working on his pastel masterpieces. After he retired and spent some time living aboard a sailboat, he turned his focus to watercolor. That’s when I decided to try it myself, learning everything from granulating pigments to the finer details of stretching paper, all under Dad’s guidance. Now, after a long break from art, I’ve found my way back, picking up where I left off, but this time with my own style in pastels.
At first glance, our work seems drastically different—Dad’s pieces tend to be more subtle and subdued, while mine tend to be bold and sometimes surreal. But there is a shared understanding in how we approach our craft. We are both humbled to have our art recognized, and this exhibit represents years of shared exploration and growth. One thing is for certain: we are both immensely proud of each other. Working together has been a highlight of our lives and I look forward to continuing to learn from and inspire one another as we see where this artistic journey takes us.
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