Everyone has a different way of preparing to be a book artist. For me, I arrived with much experience from many jobs and occupations. My first job, I think it was 1959, was selling Christmas corsages that I had made door-to-door in the neighborhood. Here then, and in relatively the right chronological order, are the other jobs I've had: Egg route vendor, florist, delivery driver, Christmas tree vendor, door-to-door flag vendor, paper deliverer, baby sitter, soda jerk, mail clerk, assistant manager, handy party decorator, messenger, Air Force ROTC recruit, Infantry soldier, forward observer, reconnaissance squad leader, poet, meat carver, waiter, recreation therapist, camp counselor, program director, assembly line worker, painter, visual merchandiser (I dressed mannequins in department store!), graphic designer, night manager, arts coordinator, special projects coordinator, rodeo official, yard worker, clown, interior decorator, antique seller, renderer, company president, production manager, receiving clerk, maintenance worker, exhibit designer, tour guide, researcher, newsletter editor, art director, secretary, tax clerk, donut fryer, sign maker, sales associate, photographer, silk screener, chauffeur, chef, house cleaner, computer operator, communications coordinator, caterer, author, miniaturist, rental booker, car transport driver, recreation supervisor, flea market vendor, clerk, teacher, inventory taker, bartender, bookkeeper, customer service representative, comptroller, extract vender, green market sheep cheese seller, and at long last, a BOOK ARTIST. Here are some of the companies that have hired me, some full time, some part time, and some just for a particular program: the egg farm down the road, Tucson Newspapers, Tom Inglis Flowers, 31 Flavors, Union Bank, Cochise College, The Christian Science Church, E. Hutchins Enterprises, University of Arizona, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, Veterans Administration, Camp Sunapee, Camp Pasumpsic, Display Art, Reid & Hughes, Gold Street Graphics, Carson & Barnes Circus, Geo. Montgomery Antiques, Box 21, Inc., Jacome's Department Store, Steinfeld's Department Store, The Foundation for Biblical Research and Preservation of Primitive Christianity, Ox Brook Graphics, Legasse Associates, E.T. Cronin Design, Committee on Publication, H & R Block, Wenchell's Donuts, Doubleday Books, Saks Fifth Avenue, Forbes, Celebrations, New York Parties, Pacific Air, Markson Scientific Company, Hotel del Coronado, Armstrong's Catering, Carriage Trade, Herschel-Brownell Associates, Lively Undertakers, Larson Advertising, Design Team-West, Management Research Team, Washington Inventory Service, U-Tot-Um, Arizona Transportation, Artspeak, The Villa School, Hotel Intercontinental, Spice of Life Catering, Lea's Party Rentals, Maya Video Products, Zunkel Design Group, Russian Travel Bureau, Great Performances, Lend-A- Hand, Hollow Road Farm, Jake's Deli, Shank's Extracts, Video Central, Green Acres School, Center for Book Arts, Pyramid Atlantic, Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts, Mesa College, Brooklyn College, Long Island University, SUNY-Purchase, Saltwinds, Paper and Book Intensive, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Brookfield Craft Center, Pelham Art Center, University of Iowa, lots of libraries (mostly in New York including ones in Chatham, Cairo, Montrose, Wappingers Falls, but also some far-flung ones from Phoenix AZ to Charlestown NH), lots of public schools (including Newport RI, Saratoga NY, Chappaqua NY, Manhattan, Iowa City IA), Newport Paper Arts Festival, Book Arts Jamboree, Book Central...and of course, EDITIONS! So, how do you get a job when you have such a checkered background? First of all, I never mentioned ALL of the jobs. Fortunately, there's been such a variety that I could pick one or two directly related to the job I was after. Only once was it an issue, and it was for a job that I wanted, and needed, very much. I told the president of the company that I was just the person he was looking for. If he hired someone with a lot of experience at the same job, that person would only know how to do the job one way, the way it had been done at the previous company. The new worker would try and get this company to change to the way the old company had done the job. But I, because I had worked for so many companies, could bring a wide range of different approaches to his company. He was not only getting me, but he was also getting the experience of all the companies I had worked for before. And, because I had lots of experience of fitting in with many different companies, I would have no trouble fitting in with his company. I was versatile and willing to try a variety ways of doing things. I would be quick to learn how his company operated and perhaps somewhere down the line I would be able to suggest, based on all the experience I had, a better way of doing some things. I got the job and that's how I was able to buy my first house. I worked for that company full time for two years, and then as a consultant for another two years.