Adam Freed

    I was born just outside the city of Poughkeepsie amidst the rural surroundings of upstate New York. From a very early age I’d shown a strong interest in drawing and painting. I pursued these interests throughout my schooling and eventually graduated from Buffalo State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in art education.
    I moved to Ft. Lauderdale Florida when I was twenty-two years of age and taught elementary school art for three years. Though I found teaching to be a very rewarding profession, I longed for my life to be driven by something more directly linked to the process of personal art production. In search of some perspective, I decided to travel across the European continent for three months.
    Outfitted with a backpack, a rail-pass and a sense of adventure, I trekked across the landscape of thirteen different countries. I documented my experiences in sketchbooks using drawings, collages and the written word. I am working on a book that chronicles my time in Europe. I intend to use my European drawings to illustrate the text. The story line, though based on actual events, places and people, is fictional. The pleasure of writing is a recent discovery for me. Oddly enough, I get the same kind of satisfaction from creating with words that I do from creating with paint. The rough draft for the book is complete and the first chapter and some of the drawings can be viewed on this web site (just return to the home page and click on "European Drawings" or "Book").
     When I returned to the states, I pushed westward and discovered a love for the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was during this period of exploration that I happened upon the small, pristine ski resort town of Crested Butte Colorado. I quickly settled into a life of skiing, mountain biking and hiking.
     My enthusiasm for drawing and painting seemed to reach a new level of intensity.
The open spaces of the plains and the rugged landscape of the mountains spoke to my appreciation of nature, while the colorful history of the old mining town sparked my sense of community. These influences fueled my passion to create like never before. During this time period, I even taught myself how to play the acoustic guitar and the piano.
     Less than two years later, I met my wife Kathy and in 1996 we opened our own arts
& crafts supply business. We remained submersed in the world of retail until December of 2003 when we sold our business. My wife now works as the office manager for a local medical center, while I paint during the week in my home studio and work part-time during the weekends at a local art gallery. We have two sons who keep us both busy and continuously add to the richness of our lives.