HARD TO FATHOM it was thirty summers ago that I returned to my hometown after a dozen years in San Francisco and little time in Seattle.

FUN FACT! An Art Degree doesn’t come with a career play-book.

I saw Bellingham with fresh perspective because of the time away. Turns out I’d be very fortunate at a local level…

*I immediately became involved with Allied Arts of Whatcom County who saw me fit for teaching painting in the local school district. (Today I offer private lessons because of all I learned in their classrooms.)

The Allied Arts perennial holiday festival launched my calendar and greeting card efforts. Seeing the moxie of other Allied Arts members inspired me to promote a line of working wall clocks in vivid color.

*overseeing mural development with the support of school administrators lead me to collaborative murals elsewhere, with local outfits such as churches, service organizations and even the Lighthouse Mission.

*The Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award was an honor that made me think of artist as integral citizen with a role to play.

*Morgan Block Artists CoOp Building gave me a dedicated workshop that to this day is my second home in the very good company of energetic Artists. I recently toasted my silver jubilee in studio of holiday events offering hot cider and cool art.

*the Whatcom Artists Studio Tour showed me that a studio practice can also serve as a retail gallery.

*Countless merchants saw my paintings worth taking on consignment. Several have carried my paintings for twenty+ years.

*Western WA University invited me to present guest lecture workshops in their Education Department.

*Local nonprofits liked the idea of me standing at my easel with wet paint smack in the middle of their formal dress annual auctions. Turns out doing good as I do well is the absolute highlight of my work.

*relationships forged with school librarians and local bookstores empowered me to launch both of my children’s book titles into the hands of young readers. I can’t say enough about my friend Barbara Jean Hicks for mentoring me in the squirrelly world of self-publishing.

*countless millennials with mad technical skills stepped up to make me look good via websites, videos and even PowerPoint presentations.

*small businesses employed my skills for their branding—signage, logos, product labels, murals, menu covers, etc. (Nothing in Art School said I’d be doing those freestanding face-in-the-hole boards.)

*too-many-to-count magazines that spotlighted my artistry with profile articles that connected me with the public. Additionally their annual Readers’ Polls reflected a local sentiment that the Arts are worth celebrating.

*my dear friend and art licensing diva Alicia Dauber is a local girl affording me national exposure.

*Local events called on me to put my commercial art training to good use on event posters— from dance performances to the campaign for United Way to the renowned tulip festival in Skagit County.

No Artist succeeds alone. Color me grateful, Bellingham —for the countless lucky stars that aligned & extraordinarily validating people that generously engaged, for me to make my way to Full Time status. It is thrilling not only to succeed but witness exponential growth in the local art scene, and this kid with a crayon is glad to be back.