I started teaching myself by studying drawings done by other artists and then moved toward experimenting with oil painting. In school, I felt art was the only thing I could count on. I had a tendency toward moodiness and art was there for me when people were not. Life seemed to be extremely distasteful and through art I could escape to a different place inside of myself and flourish there. I won art achievement awards in Junior High and High School and those events were incredibly validating experiences for me. I was also awarded an art scholarship to college and that seemed to further confirm that I was an artist. I decided to get a degree in Art Education and earned my degree in 1991.
In college, I had a roommate who was studying Photography. She used me as a model for one of her projects and the process and results thrilled me. After finishing college, I purchased a Pentax K1000 and began experimenting with ideas. I discovered that Photography was something I had a knack for. Since then, I have worked as a Professional Photographer for approximately 5 years doing portraits, weddings, managing and assisting.
I prefer themes that are seemingly difficult to undertake, for example: capturing fireworks, shadows, reflections, and unusual lighting effects (such as it is with concerts). I take pleasure in challenge when it comes to my art, as part of the fun is trying to find a solution to a perceived problem.