Before the first drop of ink met skin at Ryderville, there was the silent, rhythmic pull of a brush across textured paper. My identity as an artist was forged long ago in the fluid world of contemporary watercolor and classical figure drawing. From being a twelve-year-old apprentice to receiving the Amy Award for Emerging Artists, this post explores the 'Fine Art First' philosophy that has guided my hand for over forty years—and why 2026 marks a return to those fine art roots