First Impressions

How the painter and professor embraces traditional limits

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Where did your artistic journey start?

Like a lot of people, as a kid, painting with Bob Ross and drawing from dinosaur books. I took all the art classes I could and participated in summer youth programs at Kent State University where I'd eventually earn bachelor's and master's degrees in visual communication design.

What's your main inspiration?

Most artists are observers and I'm no different. If I'm talking with someone, I'm also drawing their face or thinking about what paint I'd mix for their skin tones. In my portrait paintings, I explore identity, beauty and transformation through a melding of the human form with floral or abstract elements.

Is making a living as an artist all you thought it would be?