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The critiques and independent study helped my explore my work in depth and allowed me the opportunity to evaluate and measure my work against artists that I respected. I continued my printmaking and drawing courses including lithography and screen printing and graduated with honors in the summer of 1 975 with my BFA. I applied for the Masters program and was accepted for the Fall of 1975 at the University of Utah. It was during that summer a tragedy unfolded in the life of my small family. Our first son, Corbin was born in the spring of 1972,and at the age of two and a half contracted acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Through chemotherapy and radiation he went into remission but during that summer in 1975 he relapsed and the cancer re-established itself. I was a married university student with two young boys, working part time at Stevens Brown Design, and freelanced art and advertising projects for a living. We were without health insurance and struggled to pay the considerable hospital and doctor bills. I made the decision to drop out of school and work full time to stabilize my family's need for income and attend to my son in the last year of his life. I regret even today that I did not pursue the MFA. I do not regret the time and attention that Norma and I devoted to our young son who courageously struggled through another round of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Unfortunately the treatment was temporary, and in August of 1 976 the cancer reappeared. We had for months stayed by his side in the University Hospital around the clock. Norma would spend all day; I would relieve her after work and stay through the night, sleeping in a chair by is hospital bed. Corbin passed away September 22, 1976. I continued to pursue my art in conjunction with my career as an art director and designer. I entered exhibitions and statewide competitions. I explored drawings, watercolor, oil paintings, and experimental mixed media collages. In 1985 I partnered with Brad Hale and Paul Keyser, incorporating SDI (Sportswear Design International), an apparel company that specialized in the combination of apparel and graphic design. We worked again with major companies in the ski and sports industries developing accessory clothing for their marketing and branding needs. We expanded the offerings to the ski resorts in North America and soon developed a line of resort clothing bearing the names of Vail, Aspen, Sun Valley, Snowbird, Mont Tromblant, and Whistler. Subsequently we expanded to the golf industry providing product for major golf brands, country clubs, and resorts including Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, The Homestead, The Broadmore, etc. SDI employs one hundred fifty people, including: sales representatives, manufacturing employees, graphic designers, and management personnel. In the past few years I have been working primarily on mixed media collage drawings and paintings. Over the years I have received awards and recognition from the Utah Watercolor Society, U of U Davis Art Center, Bountiful Davis Art Center, and the Utah Arts Council. I have shown work in the state- wide BDAC exhibits, the Utah Arts Council Mixed Media and Works on Paper Shows, and the Springville Museum Spring Salon. I am looking forward to the future, and continuing to expanding my involvement in fine art. Martin Blundell November 27, 2004