When I sat down to design this website my initial focus was to sell my artwork and design services. Maybe get a little added exposure along the way.
As my site content developed I felt the desire to delve a little more in depth. Why should I solely try to sell my art? Why not also convey who I am and where I came from? Selling my art is vital to earning a living and caring for my family but isn't it just as important for my clients to understand who they are giving their money to? Shouldn't they have an idea of who they were supporting?
I've noticed there is an increasing number of artist web sites that try to dazzle and awe everyone by being grandiose. Everyone seems to follow the same template to portray an ultra slick, "mega" personality. In their efforts to appear professional and garner more hits many artists lose who they really are at heart. You know you're in trouble when your the only employee and you speak of yourself in the third person! Remember the classic Seinfeld episode The Jimmy?
Every where you turn in this brave new digital world someone is caught up in their own sense of self importance. All done of course in the pursuit of money and fame. I think it's comical sometimes just how pompous and self-absorbed some artists have become. It used to be only the famous people had chips on their shoulders. Now everyone thinks they are Puff Daddy. Maybe it's all a ripple effect created by the likes of Paris Hilton? I prefer to portray the opposite of the "I'm a superstar" reality TV cult. After all, I'm neither rich nor famous so why pretend that I'm some big shot when I'm really just an ordinary guy who likes to draw. |
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I believe a more personal approach can better illustrate what I do and how I learned my craft. Maybe along the way you'll get a broader understanding of who I am as an artist, a friend, and a father.
I didn't always know exactly what I wanted. I lost who I was for a few years in the pursuit of easy money and a steady paycheck. The experience taught me that a six figure salary isn't a fair trade for doing something you hate. I saw the type of person that big business often encourages and I know that's not the man I want to become. Success, a VP title, and money shouldn't be mutually exclusive to honesty and integrity. I was pushed and stood my ground when tested by someone rich in stature and arrogance but poor in honor and character. Doing so taught me to hold fast in your beliefs even if your livelihood is at stake. You can always find another job but your character and integrity are priceless. Our children emulate who we are not what we earn.
In the big scheme of things I'm just a little guy. What you see here on these pages is what you get. I am not an international corporate design firm. I am not an eccentric, pompous gallery artist who takes himself too seriously.
I am a one man operation who works out of a humble 1,000 square foot studio space. I work hard, get dirty, don't shave frequently, and wear hats too often. I wear work boots and torn jeans. I have dirt and paint under my fingernails. My hands are always cut and calloused because I use them to bend metal to my will. I don't own many nice clothes because I spend most of my disposable income on tools or art supplies. I love the smell of oil paints, aluminum, and burnt race fuel. I work with metal but I don't have any tattoos. I'm not a tough guy. In fact, I have a high-pitched, nasally voice that often gets me called "ma'am" by telemarketers. I talk too much.
I hate American Idol.
I'm not afraid to sling some paint and tackle the tough jobs. I've bitten off more than I could chew on several occasions and came out on top more than not. I've lived and breathed art for my entire life and have made my share of mistakes along the way. I believe the greatest things in life are our faith, our family, and our dreams. Everything else is just "stuff" we collect along the way.
That's me in a nutshell. If you want a better idea of how I got to where I am today and where I'd like to go in the future check out the drop down tabs under the "about" button above. I hope this site is at a minimum somewhat interesting and I don't bore anyone to death. As I mentioned above I talk too much so I also tend to ramble on even when I'm writing.
If all of this sounds a little "off" and I'm not speaking your language I want to thank you for making it this far down the page. You can now click here to resume your regularly scheduled program!
