Blue Moon Blog

I was probably born with the artistic gene. But if that spark was ignited at conception, was indeed ingrown and imprinted in my DNA, surely it was nurtured and encouraged by the two who brought me into this world in the first place and raised me: Mom & Dad.

My siblings and I all benefited from this impulse in them, to instill in us and pass on an appreciation for the arts as well as to create. Music was playing in the house all the time. My mom, Janet, was a fan of a singer of standards, tenor John Gary. She also loved musicals, and we watched plenty growing up. My Dad, Richard, has eclectic tastes. I recall my parents dancing in our conservative household to the soundtrack from Hair! We heard classical (Schubert and more), country (Roger Miller, Marty Robbins and more), jazz (Dave Brubeck and more), and many other artists from many genres: Harry Belafonte, Joe Cocker, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Tina Turner, and the list goes on.

Any time any one of us showed an interest in art or music, they not only encouraged us, they went above and beyond the call. All the kids in my family drew or sculpted, played an instrument and/or sang. When I asked them if I could get organ lessons, they decided to buy a piano. My Mom and I would take the train to downtown Chicago for weekly lessons at the American Conservatory of Music, where my sister also later studied. So I began writing songs at age nine or ten, and seriously at seventeen, and still write, play and sing to this day, a valuable creative and emotional outlet.

My three siblings attended classes Saturday mornings across the street at The Art Institute of Chicago. Ironically, I was the only who didn’t like it there, and lasted only one class, if that. We were all encouraged to participate in citywide art fairs and competitions, leading to the Buckingham Art Fair, again in downtown Chicago every Summer. (Each of my siblings won ribbons and awards for their work. Me? Not so much.)

When I became crazy about comic books, my Dad took me on my first trip to a comic book shop (Joe Sarno’s Comic Kingdom). And when a simple enthusiasm and hobby evolved quickly into a downright obsession, my folks made sure I was able to visit my first comic book convention, which I attended for years, eventually appearing behind the table as a professional. When I self published my own comic book, I couldn’t have had bigger boosters, my Mom while at work proudly displaying her Trollords button on her lapel.

Because of their tremendous support, especially during the crucial early and formative years of childhood, I was able to develop skills that paved the way for my creative life and career. We try to do the same for our kids, not only with art and music, but for whatever in which they show an interest or passion. If we do half as good a job as my folks, we’ll be all right. Thanks, Mom and Dad.