Growing up in this massive, lively bunch of ten, six girls and four boys- I found myself smack in the middle as the fifth child. Honestly, feeling a bit like a middle child cliche, I was always on a mission to stand out. Anything creative made my heart sing, especially if it involved making something special for someone else.

So, when I was eight, I saw these portraits an artist had done and thought, "Hey, I can totally draw like that!" I grabbed a pencil, sketched my sister Samara. It was far from a masterpiece but, my family immediately recognized her. That's when the light bulb flickered on, and I realized my calling as a fine artist.

Drawing kind of took over my world. I mean, every school worksheet turned into my canvas. By the time I hit ten, I was drawing up pictures and turning them into homemade coloring books, selling copies at the local farmers market. Met this cool art grad there who showed me some perspective drawing tricks that blew my kid mind. I was so inspired, dead set on making fine art my career someday.

But then, here comes the whole "starving artist" buzz. When I declared fine art was my dream, people started nudging me toward graphic design and anything remotely creative that didn't involve starving. I kept drawing, tried my hand at all sorts of artsy stuff—taxidermy, wood carving, pottery, even dipped my toes into web design—hoping to find that sweet spot that didn't come with a side of hunger.

Somewhere along the way, 3D animation snuck into my life, and for a few years, I gave up on being a fine artist. Worked at a video game studio, but man, I missed the raw, handcrafted vibe of traditional art. Didn't jump back into fine art right away, though. Mom nudged me toward Disney and Pixar internships, and I continued pursuing animation as my new path.

Guided by advice from Disney artists, I delved into figure drawing tutorials on YouTube, to enhance my portfolio. Art that celebrates the intricacies of the human form became my new love and figurative work has played a big role in my fine art ever since. However, a surprising twist of fate led me to a career as a carpenter. 

Here's where life takes a swoon-worthy turn. Carpentry led me to meet my wife—my best friend, the mom of our two boys, and my biggest cheerleader in the art game. We're a team, tackling everything together, including our artistic adventures. She's got some serious skills herself , and together, we decided to pen a drawing guide and digital course, because for a hot minute, I considered teaching drawing instead of tackling painting, which is really what I wanted to master more than anything else.

She's the one who finally nudged me to join this local drawing group I'd been putting off forever. Back into figure drawing and painting, my love for art kicked into high gear. I set out to push boundaries, creating impactful portraits and figures. A game-changer was painting a portrait of my son at the beach, catapulting my artistry to new levels. Crafting a few custom pieces for friends, I was amazed at the profound impact personalized art could have. The true revelation struck when witnessing the deep emotional response my creations evoked. The real fulfillment in my art journey lies in making people feel special, celebrating them as the masterpieces they already are. And that, my friend, is the heart and soul of my art journey.