After retiring from teaching science in a high school on Longi Island  for 39 years, I had to determine what I wanted to do with the rest of my  life.  I decided to learn to paint, so I took classes in drawing.   After felt comfortable in what I was doing, I took a course in oil  painting for absolute beginners. I continued to take oil painting  classes until I felt I knew the basics of oil painting.  I then rented a  studio in Long Island City where I have painting for the past 20 years.