During the Depression era of the 1930s, his paintings created an escape to other worlds. Norman Rockwell, on the other hand, painted a definition of middle-American culture. He created idealized images of rural life, the homespun values that shaped postwar American society, creating hope for those who returned from war wondering what it meant to be American. I try to create universal images that all people can identify with. Anyone from any culture can celebrate the joy of walking through a fragrant garden, the peacefulness of a stream, a cozy cottage with glowing windows that beckon us to enter and sit beside the fire.
Light creates hope.
Calif. God has a funny way of weaving the threads of your life together. My parents were poor. They divorced when I was 5, and then we really entered a state of poverty. Our clothing was always second-hand or very inexpensive. We lived in a shabby house compared to others in the neighborhood.