MY BIO... HOW DID I GET HERE?

This is probably more than you want to know, but...I've lived in most of the San Joaquin Valley of California. I was born in Turlock, lived on a grain ranch in Balico, moved as far north as a little town called Salida (little at the time, I'm sure it's grown some by now) and as far south as Riverside and Perris while stationed at March Air Force Base. I'd have to say that my hometown was Bakersfield, Arvin more specifically. Growing up that short distance from from L.A. and Disney was a cartoonist's heaven and a young artist's dream location.

I began to draw at age 5-6, seriously at about age 9-10. From the moment I understood that I would have to choose an occupation, I knew without doubt that I would become an artist. I had no idea what that would actually involve, but it was never a debatable topic. Throughout elementary and high school I won local awards for artistic ability and for achievement. Most of the awards were of little importance in the art world, but in my world they were enough to keep me pointed in my desired direction. Along the way I've had mentors, supporters, excellent motivators, teachers and professors who all continued to urge me onward. I entered the art field as quickly as life would allow,and having spent my life making art on a daily basis I set a personal goal of book illustration, primarily children's books. I worked as a production artist, and graphic designer for more than 15 years, doing a lot of work in print shops, gaining pre-press and production experience and had the chance to do a moderate amount of illustration along the way. Still, while doing all of those years of "grunt work" the idea of books was always somewhere in the back of my mind.

At one point I was sucked into the world of comic books and, not being a writer, this was perfect for me because it was light on the writing and heavy on the illustration. I'd have to say that other than the work for hire and in house production work I'd done forever, this was probably my first brush with actually being a "published artist". I was selected to be one 100 comic book artists to be featured in an "UP and COMING" comic book artists card series. (I'm not sure that project ever made it off the ground.)I eventually left California, moved to Texas, married a wonderful woman, and found myself as Art Director of a State Association, which was an excellent position but eventually gave me less and less opportunity to do what I do best, illustration. During that time the PyroWriters, a group of local authors, were publishing a collection of short stories, and I was asked to do one illustration in that book. As I was working on that single, simple drawing, a little lightbulb came on over my head and I remembered what I had put on hold for so long...BOOKS!

I began to pursue book illustration once more, and soon a book illustration deal came my way. I finished that project, and within a few months, there was another book deal in the works. The completion of those two books,was enough to get me back on track, and move on to do others. OOH I love it when a plan comes together.

The best and funniest comment I have ever received in regards to my skills? "That kid could draw a pickle and make it look sour."