John Hovenstine

"I am an artist". This is not a claim I make, but rather a compliment others give away. I have drawn and painted since I was a little kid. One of my earliest memories of drawing something and thinking it wasn't bad was when I was around 7 or 8. My Dad sold Bibles and one of the books in the set included portraits of the 12 disciples. I still have the drawings I spent hours working on, although Judas does resemble Barney Miller for all those who remember the TV show, totally unintentional on my part. When I showed the drawings to my parents they encouraged me to do more and never mentioned the uncanny resemblance. Aren't parents great!

Along with drawing and painting I have always loved photography. I remember dragging around my Polaroid Big Shot camera until I could no longer afford film on my paperboy wages. My Dad was a photographer and we rigged up a small darkroom in the basement where we would make prints. I really miss the smell of the developer in that dark, unventilated basement and the forgotten hours that followed.

Anyways you see I have a bit of a history with both art and photography and have spent what some would call my adult life trying to use my God given skills as much as possible. I have been the creative director at an award winning catalog, won some awards for my art and photography, have my work hanging in people's homes across the country, and saved 2 whales. I know the whales have nothing to do with art, but I just like to brag about that in case Ted Danson visits my web site.

My greatest achievements in life, although I give God all the credit, is my family. A great wife, three beautiful daughters, 3 son-in-laws I consider the sons I never had and eight of the cutest grandkids this world has ever seen. I'm serious about the grandkids, I'll send you pics if you don't believe me.