D. Arthur McBride
United States
I completed my first painting at age thirteen, at my Mom’s elbow, and continued to paint and draw through my teen years. My Mom always had a keen interest in painting, and continued to do so until her vision and health prevented it in her early 90’s. My Dad was in the military and we travelled frequently as I grew up. I majored in Science in college, graduating with a degree in Natural Science from Rutgers University.
After two children and finding myself as “head of household,” I followed the avenue of teaching high school science, and eventually received a Masters degree in Science Education from Nova University. My science teaching career, however, was to last only 15 years.
Throughout this time, painting remained a hobby, but one day I was asked to teach a painting class for a small group in Carrabelle, FL in 1979. And thus began my teaching career in art!
Those evening classes prospered for nine years, until I relocated to the Tallahassee area in 1988. Four years later I again moved to an area just outside Havana, FL, and soon continued teaching classes in a small studio on my property. Word of mouth was my only advertising. Those were the first steps toward doing what was to become my burning desire in life: painting and helping others to enjoy the same.
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 14th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.
