1) Where did you grow up? Did your childhood have any impact on your art?- “I grew up in St Louis on the south side of the city. I don’t really feel the area had that much of an impact on many of my art styles. There are a few Gothic-type churches that are in the city that I love.”
2) What are some of the first art piece you did growing up?- “Many of the first pieces I can recall were a lot of dragons and grim reapers. I’ve always had a fixation with fantasy art and things of that nature.”
3) What are you currently working on, project-wise?- “I am currently working on a mini beads pattern style for small shadowbox frames.”
4) Who are your favorite characters you have ever made and why?- “If I had to choose a few, I would have to choose The Crow from the James Obarr comics. Something about the dark Gothic nature and its live story rings in my mind.”
5) What tools do you use for your paintings?- “My main tools are spray paint and canvas. I use poster board to create my stencils that I draw and cut by hand with an exacto knife. I’ve been using perler beads (full and mini,) and also learning new styles from paint pens and colored pencils.”
6) What was your path like until you found art?- “I was a pretty normal kid; a lot of sports and video games. I went to a military school from grades 6-12. I feel art was always there but I really didn’t take it seriously until I had an aunt buy a piece from me in my mid-30s.”
7) How is your relationship with your suppliers? What is the key to a good rapport with them?- “My main suppliers are just normal retail chains like Michael’s and Joann’s. I try to use as many small suppliers as I can to help support local shops. But I don’t know if I really have strong ties to anyone in those shops due to a lot of turnover, unfortunately.”
8) What is your favorite piece of art you’ve worked on and why?- “If I had to narrow it down, it would have to be my checkmate piece. I made this for a good friend as a 1 1 style piece to help represent who he is and his passion for his business and moto.”
9) How did you get into pearler beads? Any tips for making radical pieces like yours?- “I got into beads because I saw another artist do them and wanted to fuse their style with my style. Tips for me are just trying to find a pattern and figure out a way to mesh styles together to make something unique for my customers.”
10) How do you get reviews?- “Most reviews come from word of mouth. I’m unfortunately not the best when it comes to the digital world of social media. I do need to be better on that front though.”
11) What is the hardest: creating or marketing?- “For me, I would have to say marketing, only because I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to posting.”
12) What type of style of art do you dream of doing that you have not yet?- “A style I’ve always wanted to try is 3D illusions. That style is a way to bend the mind and reality of art.”
13) Tell us about your experiences collaborating with other artists or creatives.- “I’ve done collaborations with different artists in 3D printing, regular art style, and a few others. I love having a way to mesh other styles with my own. It helps bring something different to the table for customers.”
14) What do you do to relax?- “A lot of times video games or watching TV. The best way to relax for me is just building a fire and detoxing from electronics.”
15) If you could tell your 14-year-old self one thing, what would it be?– “With so many ideas and things to do, always just try to push. Grow in your life and your craft. I started selling art late in life, but I never had the confidence to start selling sooner. I’m glad I never gave up and am where am in my art journey.”
16) What advice would you have for this upcoming generation?- “Believe in yourself and your craft. Don’t let others dictate what kind of artist you want to be to please anyone else. It’s your style. Push to be who you want to be.”
17) Have you ever watched a movie that changed you outlook on life?- “I’m sure there are a few that I have. The Last Samurai comes to mind along with Hero (the Jet Li movie.) They both can really show the perspective on why we need to find a way to stop being so divided as people and learn to stop destroying ourselves because of our differences.”
18) Do you have a classic artist or art you are fond of?- “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. It shows the opening to new lands and the flowing waters bring new things for the future.”
19) Any type of music that gets your creative juices flowing?– “I listen to so many different styles; it’s hard to choose. I can go from death metal to classical orchestra. Just depends on what I click that day.”
20) If you could pick three people who are your heroes or role models, who would they be and why?- “Bruce Lee– he just had a philosophy about him that just wanted to teach and always grow in his craft and life.
Robin Williams– the way he had a way to always make others laugh because he knew that laughter is what is needed to escape from the harsh realities of life and the demons a lot of us hold inside.
Stan Lee– the man created an entire series of different characters to show we are all so different with many different paths and styles and that is what creating is all about.”
21) Dog or cat person?- “100% dog person!”
22) What food do you want to eat right now?- “Always down for some ice cream.”
23) If you could be in any movie that has already been made, which one would it be?- “Top Gun- flying an F16 would be the most awesome thing to do.”
24) What is your favorite holiday or time of year?- “I love Halloween/fall. The creativity that people have when it comes to costumes and one of my favorite styles is masks. Masks usually can tie the character and personality well and can create so many different ideas.”
