If you look very closely, you are able to see the two wood ducks in the lower left corner. This was john's first painting. It was started in February 2007. john thinks that his many years of photography maybe has helped him paint. Until February 2007, john had no idea that he could paint. He had dabbled with an airbrush before that time, but had spent most of the time trying to get the airbrush unclogged.

Also, john started painting because of having a mentor. Fred Broski volunteered to help john get started. Fred asked john one day if he would like to learn how to paint. john said "yes" before Fred was done with his sentence. Fred retired from television weather forcasting in Kansas City and another show on television called "Bowling for Dollars".