What year did you graduate from Bluffton High School?

1979

(To view photos of Joe open the two attachments at the bottom of this story)

What was the first piece of artwork that you sold? To whom?

You know, I just can't recall the first piece I sold. Over 20 years ago I started getting artprints made from my published work and taking them to sportsmen's shows to sell. I would walk around the fairgrounds with my little portfolio case and talk to people, telling them about myself and asking if they'd like to see my work. I remember one group from Indiana that knew of my published work. They had me sit at their campsite and draw quick sketches on paper plates for them. (No one had any sketch paper.) They were paying me about $10- $15 per sketch. I walked away with $1000 in my pocket that day and realized that I could make a living at this.

How far in advance do you work on art pieces?

There are some pieces that I work on many months in advance. In the magazine industry you are sometimes working about 2-3 weeks prior to publication. Most editors need the work in hand 2 months before it hits the news stands.

What's your favorite animal to draw?

It really changes from project to project, but I've always liked foxes. My latest drawing is of a group of ornery red fox pups outside their den that I named "The Brat Pack".

Do you draw freehand? Use any technology?

I prefer hand drawn original work. I see so many young artists today that work only in digital programs like Adobe Illustrator, etc. In the future they will not have any "original" drawings that will age and gain value to a paying art collector. A digitally created image will never be tangible. I have a list of patrons that really enjoy investing in hand drawn original work.

In what magazine will we find your work?

I still have occasional illustrations published in Fur-Fish-Game magazine where I worked monthly for 20 years. My art has appeared in Deer & Deer Hunting, North American Hunter, Muzzle Blasts, Pennsylvania Game News, and The Trapper & Predator Caller magazines to name a few. I've been spending most of my recent time doing original work for my web site "JoeGoodmanPrints.com."

Of what artistic accomplishment are you most proud?

My work can be seen in many state wildlife publications and regulations nationwide. I enjoy the fact that many new sportsmen, hunters and trappers are viewing my illustrations to learn the proper methods and techniques for them to be successful in the outdoors. I get calls from out of state friends who say, "Hey, I just saw your drawings in my new state hunting regulations, nice job!"

Who has influenced you most, artistically?

I've really admired western artists Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, and Phillip R. Goodwin. I also am amazed at Frank Frazetta's fantasy art. Frank passed away this past year and I wished I could have met him.

Who/what inspires you?

My wife and daughter inspire me constantly. Sitting in a tree stand watching the woods wake up on a frosty October morning inspires me. A red tail hawk landing in our front maple tree. Sometimes just the simplest of things can get you fired up.

What do you remember about your early experiences with art? Elementary, middle, high school?

In elementary school we had an art contest and I drew animals. I ended up winning a few ribbons. I remember the teachers commenting about how my sketches were different than the others, as my animals were "in action." I was home sick from school with the flu one winter and spent time drawing a largemouth bass in colored pastel chalks. Gene Benroth at the Bluffton News got wind of it somehow..(I'm blaming my Mom.) and a picture of me holding that drawing was printed in the newspaper. I have to mention my High School art teacher Sue Groves. She really inspired me through school and after. I was working a sports show in Lima a couple years ago and she showed up and surprised me. I gave her one of my prints that she was admiring. The next day, my daughter received a beautiful hand-delivered Steiff teddy bear. Sue was a great teacher and is an even greater person.

Share some memories of growing up in Bluffton.

At a young age I wanted to learn to be a trapper. I rode my bike out to Dick Millager's woods and set 3 traps for foxes. The next morning my Dad got home from work at Cooper Tire and dropped me off to check. I had caught a gray fox! I remember holding it up to show him as he pulled up in our old blue Ford Falcon. "I don't believe it, I just don't believe it," he smiled. We made the rounds that day showing my catch off to local friends and family. I remember the summers playing basketball at the pool. The Caskie boys, the Carmacks, Denny Phillips, Tim Closson, Jeff Pogue, Andy Herrmann, the Laing bothers. A good game could always be had there. I have fond memories of fishing at the Trout Derby. We would always come back in the evening to fish, when it was less crowded. I remember Carol Cramer calling me over to fish next to him near the diving board, "Hey Joe, you want to catch some trout?", he asked. (Of course!!) We caught 20 plus fish that night. He was such a good guy and a hell of a fisherman.

Give me your best Rick Ramseyer story.

Well one day ol' Rick discovered his dad's hidden cache of fireworks. Inside were a couple of "silver salutes" -about twice the power of an M-80 firecracker. So we thought it would be awesome to test one out at their home near the golf course. We blew an 8" chunk of asphalt cleanly out of the road and our ears rang for most of the day. I don't think Dick and Elfreda were very impressed, but we were believers!

You're a hunter, correct? What was your closest call? Meet any grizzlies? Where do you hunt?

Archery hunting for whitetail deer is my pashion/obsession. However, I recently got the opportunity to hunt bigger game. Rick Ramseyer and I have remained friends through the years and he lives in Maine. My wife and I have visited many times and have grown to love that state. In 2005 I started applying for their Moose Hunting lottery and out of 19,000 non-resident applicants my name was drawn! I was going moose hunting. I hunted in north central Maine near Millinocket and was fortunate to harvest a 9 year old bull with a 53" wide antler spread. What a majestic and awesome animal. It took over an hour to field dress it and I took home 800 quarts of meat. The flavor is outstanding. We saw over 20 bull moose that week and I captured many of them on film. I will never forget it.

Are you a full-time artist or do you still work for UPS?

After 29 plus years at UPS I have retired and am a full time artist. The art career has seemed full time for many years with all the shows I do, plus operating my web site. This is the position I've been striving for. I have plans to work even more sport shows and increase my visibility as an artist.

Married? Kids?

My wife Julie has her Master's Degree and teaches high school science in Hillliard. We have been married since 1997 and reside in Reynoldsburg. In 2006 we were blessed with our daughter Carly. Thankfully, Carly has her Mom's looks and loves to draw everyday. If she eventually wants to become an artist, I'll encourage her to take up banking!

Do you have any pets?

We are looking for a new home and will add the pets when we have more room to sprawl.