I am a graduate of the Syracuse University School of Art and taught for 5 years. Since then I have done freelance artwork, predominantly portraits, logos and custom drawings and designs. Art and animals have been lifelong loves which I have combined.
I trained my first 2 dogs in obedience in which they did exceptionally well. I was quite active for a while in the Obedience Club of Tampa, becoming one of the trainers. Not long after, I obtained my first little miniature schnauzer female from Dorem Kennel, a leading founding kennel of the breed and started my conformation breeding program. Dorem Trilby produced my first two champions which led to several more generations of champions. The greatest addition to my Shorlaine miniature schnauzer bloodlines was CH Bethel's News Flash whom I bought from Robert Moore (a leading All Breed Judge) of Bethel's fame. More about these on my SHORLAINE page. I continued breeding and showing for over 30 years finishing many champions and several more obedience titleists before finally devoting most my time to my artwork
During these years I became a member of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club. I was asked to do the drawings for the AMSC official publications, "Illustrated Discussion of the Breed Standard" and the "Grooming Chart." In addition I have done quite a bit of other artwork for the Club. This led to more artwork for several other national Breed Clubs. Over the years I was selected to judge the Sweepstakes at four of the National Specialties as well as for quite a few local miniature schnauzer clubs.
We owned 10 acres (then in the country) on which I had my kennel and where we kept horses. My daughter, Ann, loved riding from the age of 5 on. She rode in Hunter Shows during Jr and Sr High School as a Junior rider with her first two Thoroughbreds, doing quite well in Equitation and Hunter classes. I rode our pleasure horses for fun. She is now married with two chidren and has again taken up her riding at Hunter shows. More about her on ANN's page.
I was one of the Charter members of the Florida West Coast Miniature Schnauzer Club which was centered in the Tampa-St Petersburg area in May, 1964. Over the years I held the office of President several times as well as other offices. We had a very active and successful club, holding quite a few annual Specialties, with an additional show in the summer for a few years. Then for a few years the club went dormant but is now starting up again with a membership covering the whole state of Florida.
These days my association with the dogs is predominantly through my artwork which keeps me quite busy. I do work of all breeds and also horses and other animals. There is quite a bit of my work up on websites in many countries. The addition of computers and scanners with the outstanding graphics programs now available have greatly enhanced my original drawings and broadened the possibilities of their uses
