Yesterday was my first Father’s Day without my Dad.  Herb Ross died last September, a year after we started One River.  My father was an interesting guy because he loved the visual arts, painted and illustrated, collected things with a passion, but rarely shared it with others.

He was inspired to draw by the comics of his day and I have precious drawings that are from his teen years growing up in the Bronx.  Mighty Mouse was a big one.  So was Popeye.  My dad brought them to life with such vigor.  As he got older he transitioned to painting but still focused on other artist’s work.  I have two amazing Van Gogh reproductions that he did and he never took an art lesson in his life.

No matter what I did in life, my Dad would’ve been proud.  The fact that I wound my way into the arts, teaching creative education and curating a gallery, was a great inspiration for him in his final days.  I miss him so much and know that he is with me all the time and clearly a force beyond my passionate connection with art.

Monday, June 16, 2014