#crackedhat

(3 of 4) “I don’t recall any one particular “ah ha” moment of advice I’ve been given that’s stayed with me. But what has really stuck in my mind over the years is the example of just plain hard work that has been demonstrated by so many artists I admire. The consistent quality of work and never half-assing projects no matter how small. Teaching by example is what I respond to.

I suppose if I really tried to analyze myself and my experiences and how they’ve reflected my art (which I’m not one to do) I would say my best friend’s suicide and mother’s car accident/stroke/death most certainly pushed my work into some darker areas. But even before then I was attracted to more somber styles of art. I just think those experiences now gave meaning to it, it wasn’t just for aesthetic's sake. That being said, I wouldn’t describe my portfolio as sad dark art, but there is a portion of that to it to be sure.”

(2 of 4) “Other artists—whether contemporaries or old masters—keep me inspired to continue creating. They also cracked the whip to make me get better. The world is filled with so many unbelievably talented artists! When I was younger, before the advent of the inter-webs, one might get a little cocky, not being exposed to or aware of the abundance of talent out there. Not to mention I had a very myopic view of what I considered to be “good” in my young adult life. Since, my taste and appreciation for all sorts of styles and art forms have thankfully expanded.

I actually quit illustration… for a while. I had been a professional freelance illustrator for over a decade and was becoming a little disenchanted. I needed a change. I still wanted to work in an artistic field, however. So I put illustration on hiatus and enrolled in an intense year course in computer animation. Although I really enjoyed it and found it fascinating and gratifying, I decided I would miss the freedom of self-employment too much and fell back into illustration. Which after the break, I was refreshed and itching to get back at it.

(1 of 4) "I was very young, I recall, when I first really started to take an interest in creating art. Like many kids, I was completely fascinated by superheroes. I wrote and illustrated my own comics. I loved to see my imagination come to life. I was blessed with an immediate knack for drawing; it came very naturally. It was never a struggle back then, I was just good at it for my age. The praise I got from friends and adults pushed me forward and I never looked back."