Like for so many wildlife artists my interest grew from being introduced to
the outdoors at a young age when my father started to include my brothers and I
on his hunting trips in Southern Arizona. It wasn't long before my interest grew
into a full blown fascination. As time went on I wanted to somehow share what I
experienced and began to sketch animals and visualize compositions like I would see in outdoor magazines and books.
I continued my interest in art and the outdoors through high school, taking
what ever art classes that were available, with the plan to continue once I attended college. I was fortunate to be accepted to the school of art at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where I majored in Graphic Design. It was my plan to work in advertising art after graduation and eventually go on my own into wildlife art. During my senior year I had the opportunity to work with a bronze casting foundry in near by Sedona. After graduating in 1981 I moved to Sedona and stayed on with the foundry for another year. This proved to be a great experience as I was able to meet some of the big names in cowboy and wildlife art. However after all this I was still anxious to get back to Tucson and give it a shot in advertising art as I had originally planned.
Once back home in Tucson things were slow in advertising art. In the
meantime I worked for my father at his construction company. Whenever he had work for me I would help out as well as other part time work to pay bills. During these days I would paint or draw animals whenever I had the chance. As time went on the construction business became a full time career and my art started to take a back seat. When the great recession of 2008 found millions like myself laid off looking for new work, even new careers life suddenly changed for my wife and I. We've learned that difficult times like these often grow into new adventures and good things can come from them.
As I said, challenging times can turn into new opportunities as my wife and I
found work again and are able to spend quality family time with the kids who live close by. Now, instead of the long hours spent at the office my free time is
dedicated to rebooting my dormant art endeavors. My goal is to share my passion for this venture and somehow become influential. So as I continue to grow as an artist I look forward to this exciting journey. The important thing for me as I create wildlife art, is to share the love of the process and my reverence for the great outdoors.