I was born in a suburb of Denver Colorado and relocated when I was four years old to Illinois. Ever since I could remember, I have drawn. My mother, a freelance drafter, pretty much taught me everything I would ever need to know about art. Growing up I would use her “nice black pens” and watercolor pencils and she wouldn’t bat an eye… even though she might’ve died a little bit inside. I was always encouraged as a child!

    My first love was colored pencil. I would draw wildlife, particularly set around big cats for some odd reason. I love them and still love them today! I would show my mother my pictures and just like a critic she would tell me what she thought worked and what didn’t. I still ask for her advice to this day. She is a master in my eyes. Having grown up now and been to a school of art, when she paints she asks me for a friendly critique. 

    Majoring in studio arts and graduating with a BS from Illinois State University in 2011 with a discipline in photography, my work shortly after started to center on my first love and true calling - fine art. Taking on mediums such as colored pencil (pictured below), acrylic paint pouring, and finally the charcoal and acrylic ink duo that I've come to focus on. From then on I feel that I’ve truly been able to take on the magnitude of my artistic capability. Now residing in Granville, Illinois with my wife, Bonnie, and our two cats, my ever evolving work has taken on a mind of its own!