When others hear I’m creating and exhibiting art, they most often remark, “Oh, you paint?” Until recently, I would smile and say, “No,” and then mumble something about collage, assemblage and how they might find my work a bit strange. Now, upon inquiry, I quickly reply that I’m working as a collage and assemblage artist before dissolving into my usual qualifying comments. I’ve had very little experience with painting. As a young artist, I preferred charcoal, pencil and pen. Oddly, though, it was one of my early paintings that earned a place in my parents’ home. (I was always a little embarrassed, because my instructor had painted all the “good” parts.) For some reason, my father loved that painting. I never knew why. I often wondered if he did. So recently, I was surprised when an old, discarded watercolor set provided inspiration for new works-- two abstract pieces devoid of figurative elements, each created solely in response to color, shape and form. ...