In my life, I can honestly say I have never met a person more talented than my own father. This man can draw, paint, sculpt and create wildlife art like none other. On top of that, he can play almost every musical instrument with great competence and is self taught in doing so. He also has a great love affair with the environment and wildlife so strong many do not understand it and this includes his family.

For years he has told those closest to him that none of them understand the "art world" and do not understand his drives and desires and his inability to "sell" his art and make a huge monetary advance in his life.

In other words, he too has had a very intimate connection to his talents and feels like a whore when forced to market his skills and artwork and talents.

He has felt worthless when seeing other wildlife artists make great successes by simply projecting images of wildlife clipped from magazines and picture books onto a screen and then "paint" that screen.

To top this off, many years ago he had a bout of colon cancer and during his recovery he was filled with a depression and change he could not explain. he told anyone that would listen when it came to his art he just did not "see" it the same way. Many in his family declared him lazy and berated him and suggested him he just was not willing to work hard enough. Then, he finally found a doctor who was able to tell him while under anesthesia he had encountered a certain amount of brain damage. Unfortunately, this discovery was made after the statue of limitations for a malpractice suit.

And I have noticed that he has also used a technique of silence to sooth his soul when it comes to his artwork. It has become a respite of sorts for him to cease creating art. The pain of artistic creativity to him is lessened by his own decision to slow his art production.

But through this, I think I understand a bit what David is trying to tell us - and that is what makes him so special. His art is intimate and when he shares it with us, I think he is giving us a little piece of himself and he just has just so much to give and with each part, it might mean a loss of himself.

Mr. Baerwald, if I am insultingly wrong, please let me know. I would imagine there is a lot I am missing or am wrong on. But I think through my own father, I sort of understand what your post sort of deals with.

Please do be aware that you, as a single person, have touched many of us in ways we can't describe well enough.