I'm a professional artist and published author who has spent a lifetime learning about the world around me and hope to pass what I've learned on to others.
I especially enjoy history--especially 19th and 20th century European and American history--and know more about the great conflicts of the last two centuries than anyone should know. (I know that studying wars is a downer, but they are, whether we like it or not, the seminal events that have shaped the world we live in today and need to be understood for the impact they have on our lives.) I also know quite a bit about American politics (I can name all 44 presidents in order, the year they were president, their party, and the major events that occurred during their presidency, none of which has proven useful to me to date) as well as the major cultural and social events of the last 200 years. I'm less conversant on economic trends, but I'm always open to learning more.

Of course, as a published author I am also interested in helping others learn how to write better. It saddens me that so few people, children and adults, know how to construct a coherent sentence. Knowing how to express yourself in written form is a vital tool for success, and does much to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to looking professional. I'm also a graphic designer with thirty years industry experience, so if you can't figure out how to use Photoshop or Illustrator, let me know.

A few personal things about me. I'm a U.S. Navy veteran (1976-1984, back when there were only sailing ships and pirates to deal with), a husband and father of two grown boys (as well as the weary owner of three small dogs, who shall remain as nameless as they are clueless). My hobbies, besides the obvious art and writing, include, but are by no means limited to, reading, watching science and history documentaries (when I'm not watching American Pickers), karaoke (don't ask), playing the guitar, hiking, biking, and tennis. I'm also a coin collector (numismatist to be more precise), and a paranormal investigator. (Check out my website to see authentic ghost photos people have sent me over the years). Other interests include religion, spirituality and philosophy, though I'm far from an expert in any of them.

My personal style of teaching is more conversational in nature. History comes alive through anecdotal stories, which I enjoy telling. Dates and places are important, of course, but without context history can be pretty dry stuff. My goal is to make it fun as well as educational which, I believe, improves the chances that the student will retain the information. You also like to show how events correlate to each other and that they are not just a series of random occurrences that have nothing to do with each other. That's the approach I believe works best, and why I believe I can make a difference, especially to a student who is struggling with history.

Well, that's about it. If you think I'd be a good match for you, let me know and we'll get together. Thanks!