I grew up in Coon Rapids Minnesota. Which in the late 70s and 80s was a pretty safe place to play, explore and wander around as kids on our bikes. We had many adventures fighting zombies, robots and investigated many planets.

                As I grew my love of the fantastic spilled out onto paper. No piece of paper was safe from me! I was constantly drawing. I loved dragons, knights, and heroes. Inspired by cartoons, books and comic books, my creative thirst grew. I loved books with illustrations at the beginning of the chapters, especially in the pen and ink style. In time I was constantly doodling, much to the frustration of my teachers.

                 I did go to art school for a short time, but dropped out because I was unsatisfied with the curriculum they were encouraging me to follow. It was expensive and I wasn’t getting what I wanted out of it. So, I entered the “real world”, a place where I would be stuck for twenty-some years. I grew older, had many experiences (good and bad) and continued to soak up what I could from other visual artists. Sadly though, I felt I didn’t have the time or space I needed to create.

                I have always been drawn to illustrators and artists who tend to concentrate on a single point or object in their work. Even today my paintings have a pretty stark background if any at all. Maybe one day, if I get digital, I can slide a background in afterwards. Something to work for, I suppose.

                Nowadays I look back to a time when a good friend asked me “What do you want to be?” and I was able to admit to myself finally that I want to be an artist. I am an Artist. Every morning I thank God, The Great Creator, The Universal Artist… however He shows Himself to me that day, for the inspiration, the talent and energy to live this life. I work every day, whether it on a big project, sketches, writing, reading or searching for the next place to show my work.