John "Fritz" Gunter was born back in the late 60's in SE Virginia. Bred in farming country just outside the State's capital, his family moved before he was able to complete kindergarten but at least he got to keep his blue sleeping mat. Or was it red? Hey, lots of people can't remember things from the 60's.

After getting over the road trip excitement, Fritz found himself living in a, small, non-descript town on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here Fritz was raised, which is often confused with growing up. Grade school, Junior High School, and Senior High School came and went, and it was time for Fritz to move on as well.

Upon graduating said High School, Fritz volunteered to serve a two year mission for his church in Southern California speaking spanish, which to the surprise of some, he completed honorably. After which service, he kissed Mom and Dad good-bye, well, shook Dad's hand firmly, but kissed Mom, and went to the Big K- College!

Brigham Young University is nestled in the foothills of Provo Utah, where Fritz was very lucky to have found since he had paid a lot of money to get there. Unfortunately, after several years of studying with almost as much goofing off, Fritz pulled a stupid doing something he knew was going to get himself hurt during early morning Physical Training in the Air Force R.O.T.C. The following two years whiz by in a medicated blur . . .

Some time after recovering from said accident, although it's debatable it was an accident if he knew something bad was going to happen, Fritz met a certain beautiful blonde model who had grown up and, by and by, married him and give him three beautiful little boys. Although they were aiming for a girl or two, those little things travel like carnival darts when they want to, dont they?

It was at some point during these events that Fritz woke up, looked out the window and saw the beautiful NW, Oregon Coast. This is where our interview begins:

Q: So, Fritz, we'll start with the most obvious question: why name your web site after yourself?

A: Well, mostly so I could remember it. I'm told it's catchy. I have a unique name- people tell me that all the time. And people from all over are walking up to me and saying "FRITZ! Man how are you . . . " and I'm stuck because I know their face and can't place their name, so, hey, I figure it's easy to remember, and easy to pass around.

Q: And how did you decide what you would do with your site?

A: Well, the site's always changing, though it's remained art-based throughout. It began as strictly an on-line portfolio back in the mid-90's. Now, I've added a store. Soon, my writing section will go up. So as the technology changes, as people ask me different things for me to post, that's what I'll do.

Q: How long have you been doing art?

A: My first publicly posted "advertisement" was for the Winter Olympics in 1984 (?). Our school classes made big posters to raise awareness and funds for Olympic-related charities. As far as art in any form, I was drawing airplanes, birds, space ships caricatures of my friends way back in elementary school.

Q: Have we seen your art anywhere else?

A: You might have if you're in the United States Air Force, the Air National Guard, or U.S. Army, as I've done some work for recruiters and a couple squadrons adn the like. Also, if you've opened the Yellow Pages in the last 10 years you've seen some of my work, too. I also made the Wilsonville, Oregon's Arts Council logo, two years in a row. The second one stuck and they're flashing it all around town to this day.

Q: Where did you get your name, Fritz?

A: My mother tells me it was actually her idea when I was born, but for the longest time, I had a memory of finding it in a Cheerios box when I was about 3 yrs. old. So, I'm kinda confused about that.

Q: Were you really born in the south?

A: I was born in Virginia. I would prove this by driving my Virginian social security code around town on the side of a rented truck, but maybe it's easier if you just believe me.

Q: Will the south rise again?

A: Wow. I can't even get bread to rise. Hope they're not waitin' on me.

Q: Where did you get that sense of humor of yours?

A: Now, that I'm sure came in a cereal box.

to be continued . . .