In 1982, I opened a small house painting business in Kent, Connecticut using the trade name, "Skip's Painting." It was to become somewhat prophetic, as far as my life is concerned, because I developed an interest in artwork at the same time and have been painting in one form or another ever since. Back in the 70's, an artist friend had given me a cigar box full of oil paints, a handful of brushes, and several canvas panels. They sat for a few years until I needed Christmas gifts for my sisters in 1983. I took photos of their dogs and painted portraits of them without any idea of what I was doing. The paintings came out okay, but what surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed doing them. After I sold my truck, retired from the house painting business, and settled down to raise my son, I kept at it. These days I have several projects going at once and never tire of the effort to get them right. Besides painting in oil, I've been working on watercolors and acrylics, and over the years wrote and published a collection of stories about some of the most memorable experiences in my life. I've included a few here on the Stories page. The book is available on Amazon: 30 Stories and a Little Adventure.

Contact: skipvanlenten@gmail.com