Art has always been a part of my life. When I was a child I used to draw constantly, waiting impatiently for the next Secret City Adventures program to come on PBS. This late 1980's drawing program quite possibly shaped my desire and intention to be an artist.
The obsession began in 1995 when I was 16 and started taking drawing courses at Herron Art School in downtown Indianapolis. I took classes every Saturday morning and was enamored by it. I was drawing next to people of all ages and backgrounds, and realized quickly that age has nothing to do with skill. What is most important is your desire and heart-felt intentions.
I took all the fundamentals at Herron and by my senior year I was awarded with a scholarship to take a drawing course at the University of Indianapolis, where I furthered skills such as portraiture and figure drawing.
In 1997 I moved to Bloomington, Indiana where I studied at Indiana University. I was awarded a B.A. in Studio Art, with concentrations in Oil Painting and Graphic Design. My minor was Art History, focusing mostly in African Art and Modern Art. While at IU, I took full advantage of such resources as weekly modeling sessions and having access to the letterpress printshop. Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., taught many of the graphic design classes I attended. His poster designs, bookmaking skills and overall attitude has infuenced greatly.

Soon after graduating in 2001 I landed a job painting murals for Laurie Faust, an amazing muralist and illustrator living in Noblesville, Indiana. After assisting her for almost a year, I decided to work for myself in and around Indianapolis. Murals, custom painting projects, poster art and T-shirt designs kept me busy for the next 2 years.
To further my studies, in 2003 I completed an internship at one of the oldest working letterpress printshops in America, Hatch Show Print. It is a well-known print shop in Nashville, Tennessee and is recognized for it's letterpress posters around the globe. There I furthered my love for poster design and learned a skill that dates back to the 15th century.
In 2004 I decided to work full-time for another artist named Matthew Scott, the owner of Excel-Cast, a fine arts resin foundry. There I worked with Matt producing numerous reproductions of high-end sculptures, and developed skills such as mold-making, resin-casting, and patina application.

Determined to work for myself again, I moved back to Bloomington, Indiana in August of 2005. I find that I'm most encouraged when living in a beautiful town with tons of friends who also work for themselves. Since moving back, I have learned the art of screen printing and often do posters for local bands and festivals. I have high hopes for the future here in Bloomington. |