Origins

So how does one decide to put himself out into the world as an “artist” 43 years into his life?

By just doing it. That’s how.

And it’s been too long a time coming.

I have been drawing and doodling and exercising my artistic brain as far back as I can remember. Since my youth I have been creating characters. Making things. Doodling, coloring, painting, penciling.

I took some breaks from being artistic in my high school and college days but then, in my early 20s, after a series of unfortunate events I found myself locked up in prison for drug possession.

(If this news is a surprise to you, you’re not alone! Up until now, I have been very private about this. But stay tuned. I am currently writing a book about my experience and am eager to share more details of how being incarcerated for two years affected me and made me who I am today. More to come! Stay tuned!)

While in prison, it was a “get busy livin’ or get busy dyin'” sort of situation. Eat or be eaten. I decided to eat. And, to make “money” in the joint, I hustled as a portrait artist, serving my fellow inmates by producing original graphite portraits of their loved ones based on photographic references. That’s where I honed my skills as an artist and businessman. In doing so I also found out that art was a useful therapy to combat depression.

In 2007, I was released and started my life over in Chicago. I went through several different phases during the 2000s and ultimately stopped my art endeavors all together because I got too damn busy. In 2012 I became a full-time personal trainer and in 2018 I opened my own gym alongside my former partner.

During the early stages of the pandemic, my good fortune tanked and by the spring of 2022, I had relinquished my share of the business and gotten divorced. On the same day, in fact.

Without art as my therapy from March 2020 to March 2022 I probably wouldn’t be here right now. My mental state was beyond dark during those two years. I was suicidal. I was broken.

But no matter what, every single day, I found a way to create art, because making things was the only thing that made me feel good.

Eventually, I had an apartment full of artworks.

With my head held high, after 18 years I have moved on from Chicago and my responsibilities there. My number one job now is to be a happy person. In doing so, I spend my time between central Illinois and south Texas, getting outside as much as possible running, biking and hiking.

All of the above is excellent fuel for the muse.

You can see a collection of my artworks here or visit the shop to see the latest offerings!