About THIS PAINTING -  I began this work as an abstract "start".  I love the rich colors and interesting texture.  While some abstract starts have a definite orientation - i.e. I know which end is up - this one works in many directions.  After a few months of turning it around and visiting the page, I began to see the finished work.  It's a floor level view of dancing boots.  Can you find hemlines, boot tops, legs, and the moodiness of the dancefloor?  I've been adding whispers of these -not too much!- so you can see it too.  The idea of adding this story level is to provide the viewer with  an organizing way of looking at the work, but not so much that it detracts from the beauty of the start.

Here's a whimsical "portrait" of a life story.  Ed served in Viet Nam, and is really proud of his service.  He attended school on the GI bill.  He met his wife in college and she remains the love of his life.  He's always been a musician.  In grade school, he played drums before school, after school, until his folks made him cease and desist.  He went on to play in lots of groups around Chicago and to write music - very heady jazz.