BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL STATEMENT

Passion for one’s artistic path is the most crucial element in being a successful artist. The journey to personal success is always littered with self-doubt and rejection. The successes I have achieved have come out of this desire as well as my dedication to the highest level of quality in every project I take on. Whether quality is measured through speed, cinematic vision, or a specific aesthetic, I have been trained and continue to expand my skills to accommodate the needs of my clients.

My passion for illustration has driven me since my early childhood. In high school I was enrolled in the advanced placement art class and went on to achieve a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Illustration (with honors) at the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in college I developed my storytelling and visual skills through editorial illustration work at the university’s newspaper, The Daily Nexus, (for which I won several awards) and a heavy drawing curriculum. Upon graduation, I began my illustration career creating newspaper ads, comic books, and graphic design logos.

In 1998 I moved from Fresno, California to Los Angeles in pursuit of becoming a storyboard artist. I started landing work on smaller film projects fairly quickly and soon after I was producing storyboards for local television advertisements. Working primarily from word-of–mouth networking and affiliations with Los Angeles’ top storyboard agencies (Storyboards Inc., Famous Frames, and Frameworks), my commercial production and music video clientele grew to include companies such as Reebok, McDonald’s, and bands such as Filter. My work in film has expanded into features and even on-screen artwork (for the film Americano). In 2003, I worked full-time at Storyboards Online, one of the foremost leaders in presentation storyboards and animatics for advertising. The fall of 2004 will mark the release date of my upcoming children’s picture book, Jedlo (written by nationally renowned LA artist Ed Massey).

Part of following my passion in illustration has been the study of my craft both through art history and art technique. Teaching art on a semi-regular basis at St. Timothy’s Middle School helped me discover a second passion: teaching art. To be an influential teacher, it is imperative that he or she can convey their taught skills and work experiences as efficiently as he or she accumulates them. I believe that I posses this skill. Because I spend so much of my career constantly teaching myself new storyboard and illustration skills, I have come to really enjoy passing on this knowledge to others. I come from a family of teachers who, by life experience, have taught me what it takes to be a great mentor for students.

When it comes to storyboards and illustration, my background covers virtually all areas: commercial production, advertising, music video, film, children’s book illustration, comic books, and even graphic design. My goal is to put my enthusiasm and passion for storyboards and illustration to work in whatever project I encounter. In a world where the human spirit is being processed, marketed, and put on sale- I just want to be an artist.