Scrimshaw, the uniquely non-native, American artform was practiced by seamen out of New England starting about 1820. It was re-popularized by President Kennedy who displayed his scrimshaw collection on the desk in the oval office. I learned scrimshaw the old fashioned way: out at sea, sailing aboard tall ships learning the details of hull, rig and sail.

When I first started doing scrimshaw in 1969 the sperm whale teeth had little value and were even being given away. So it seemed right to decorate these magnificent teeth with engraving. Years later when ivory became controversial I discovered that I could 'scrimshaw' a copper plate and make prints. This is drypoint engraving, a non-acid etching technique dating from 1400.

My prints are sold in limited editions and the plates are 'struck' with my initials and framed with the last print in the edition. Sometimes I frame a print with a scrimshaw 'remarque' on a piano key (recycled ivory) or on larger mammoth ivory plaques. Sometimes I hand color the print with watercolor.

I was born at New Haven, Connecticut, graduated a zoology major from the University of Connecticut, served in the Peace Corps doing malaria eradication in Thailand, and worked in public health in San Francisco and around the U.S. Sausalito, CA became homeport for almost 10 years of living aboard and sailing the west coast. "Becoming an artist was not even remotely on my career choice list. It just happened." I've also been director of The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor fire chief, and am currently an elected member of the Friday Harbor town council.