As I progressively ramp down my 35-year career as a geologist and office and business development manager, I am attempting to ramp up the artistic side of me. Always artistic but never, yet, an artist.  I am exploring how to be an artist. My interest in NCA and taking on a Board functions follows from thoughts along the line of the following quote attributed to Pablo Picasso “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” I have worked in acrylic and watercolor, but trying to focus and become accomplished in soft pastel.