Dorothy Marie Buechsenschuss is a very long name. (She prefers to go by Mrs. Bickson — it’s much easier.) She is the daughter of Belgian-born Augusta and Hector DeSmith of Toledo, Ohio, and this sweet, gentle and soft-spoken lady is our October Artist of the Month.

Mrs. Bickson comes from a music- and art-oriented family. She counts many talented people among her relations. She first became aware of her talent in third grade. At that time she was selected, along with a few other students, to study at the Toledo Art Museum. She continued to draw and paint throughout grade and high school and took more classes from the museum.