Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?

I never had any intention of going into the arts.  I was not the kid who grew up drawing all the time. I was into sports, skateboarding, dreaming of rock climbing, figuring out how to live as a future ski bum, etc.   I was not raised in a family that had any artists or musicians or any such role models, no funky crazy aunts or uncles – but rather all fairly status quo. I played a year of college football at Middlebury College in New England, but being California born and raised, I transferred back to college in California due to the seemingly never-ending frigid East Coast winters.  Although I ultimately graduated from Occidental College here in Los Angeles, I first spent one quarter at UC Davis. It was there where my art introduction occurred. For the general ed requirement, I needed to take a “creativity” class, and I somehow chose a black and white basic drawing course.  I honestly didn’t think about it much at the time in the sense that this could possibly be my life path.  But I was extremely fortunate to have Squeak Carnwath as my first art professor. It was one of those rare times where a person’s life is forever changed. I was both captivated and intimidated by this class and this teacher. I really felt out of my element, but at the same time, there was this magnetic, strange and even sensual energy that I was feeling.   It was all so new and unknown.