He enrolled at a polytechnic high school and majored in engineering. Later, at Oregon State University, he struggled with his science classes until he realized that he must pursue his interest in art if he was ever to be happy.
After studies with Paul Gunn, Robert Huck and others on the OSU art faculty, and aided by his mentor Gordon Gilkey, Gould transferred to the University of Oregon and studied with David McCosh, Andrew Vincent, and Jack Wilkinson.
After graduation, he did odd jobs including a two-year stint as a display and advertising person before returning to the university to work on his Master of Fine Arts degree.
While a graduate student, Gould went to work taking small exhibitions throughout Oregon as an employee of the university's art museum; and, after receiving his MFA in 1967, he opted to continue his work in traveling exhibitions rather than pursue a career in college teaching. His work in the studio thereafter needed to fit his museum work schedule, but in the process he developed the discipline that all professional artists must have.
His efforts in Oregon to develop and raise funds for a statewide traveling exhibition program and related activities (such as an art transportation service for non-profit galleries, an artist workshop program, and transportable gallery fixtures) were successful and led to his appointment as Development Director of the Portland Art Museum with broad responsibilities in fund-raising, membership, museum education and public relations.
In spite of his full-time workload and the demands of a growing family, he continued to work in his studio and held several exhibitions of his work at museums and art centers in Oregon (see Exhibitions)
Word of his accomplishments in traveling exhibitions reached Dr. Joshua Taylor who at that time was looking for someone to direct the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). Taylor convinced him to come to the Smithsonian to direct and develop the program.
Gould spent eight years at the Smithsonian that were filled with activities that brought much satisfaction, but no improvement in time devoted to studio work. He created SITES's first education program, public affairs effort, self-evaluation strategy, and other innovative program enhancements.
SITES's staff increased in number and productivity and he was able to raise funds to allow the program to launch an average of 30 new shows on tour each year. Approximately 340 exhibitions began their tours under his direction. Peak activity was reached during the Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. In spite of all this activity, he maintained his studio schedule.
Word of this traveling exhibition expertise reached Armand Hammer who sought new direction for the travel of his growing art collections. Hammer succeeded in convincing Gould to come to Los Angeles to manage the Hammer collections after agreeing to give him more studio time.
The Hammer collections traveled world wide (for information on the Hammer and Smithsonian days, see Biographic Notes). While not traveling in connection with the exhibitions, Gould spent more time than ever before in his studio and arranging his own shows and sales of his work blossomed.
In 1987, the arrangement with Hammer came to an end and he returned to Oregon to devote himself entirely to his work. He now lives not far from Eugene with the writer Quinton Hallett, his wife, on a largely wooded tract that contains a large studio and a separate guest house for family and visitors.
It is here in Oregon that at long last the artist is able to completely devote himself to his work.
