Greetings! I am a free hand visual artist residing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I strive to convey believable natural textures in my art. I choose to create realistically because I see no reason to distort the raw beauty in my subjects. However, this does not mean I don’t appreciate all styles of art.

 7 Questions:

Q1: When did you begin drawing?

A: I believe I was two years old when my mother tried to teach me how to draw a tree. I in turn drew a better one and she never tried to teach me to draw again… Or so the story goes. I honestly can’t remember, it’s just something I’ve always done.

Q2: What inspires you artistically?

A: A million things, really. People, animals and nature. Sometimes a film or a piece of music can spark my creativity.  My family and friends, of course. I am very fortunate to have surrounded myself with very creative friends. I come from a family of  poets, musicians, visual artists and comedians! But everyone thinks they’re a comedian! My father is an amazing painter and I have always admired his abilities. My sisters are poetically and musically gifted. And last but not least, my wife is an incredible writer.

Q3: What are some of your earliest artistic memories?

A: I remember making dinosaurs out of aluminum foil when I was in preschool. I  remember going to high school art class when I was only in the third grade. I don’t know that I learned all that much, but it was a blast getting out of class for an hour to hang out with the “big kids”! I also remember sketching statues at museums as a small child. I can’t think of a time when I wasn’t wanting to create something.

Q4: What are some of your methods of creating?

A: First of all, I have no formal training. Where pencil drawing is concerned, I usually start from photographs as well as visually studying the subject in person. I take all of my own photography to ensure each piece is my original vision. I have strayed from the traditional approach to pencil drawing, where one would make larger strokes to graduate tones and shadows. I don’t like lines in my finished pieces so I adopted a tiny stroke technique with little or no blending. I build layers of graphite evenly over the tooth of the paper to achieve believable textures. This method is time consuming and not for the impatient artist. But why would I put my name on something that I knew I could have done better? One thing I’ve learned over the years is nothing replaces patience if you are truly dedicated to your work. I do not pre-trace or rely on grids as I feel it breaks my creative process. I choose to enjoy the journey of “learning to see”, and with each piece I learn a little more.

Q5: Is visual art your main creative outlet?

A: No, definitely not. I have played the guitar for 15 years and did the “rock band” gig for a few years back in the early 1990’s. I’ve written many songs and poems as well. I enjoy dance and have worked in film.

Q6: Who is your favorite artist?

A: Dennis James Martin is my favorite visual artist. His dedication to his craft is unmatched.

Q7: What are your goals artistically?

I would like to keep pushing the boundaries of pencil drawing. I want try as many creative projects as possible.