Born in Fort Worth Texas and raised outside Boulder Colorado, I always wanted to be an artist…– At the age of 7, my elementary school principal (also an art major) asked my parents if he could help me with my artistic ability during recess time. Of course, this was no surprise to my parents as my Dad and Grandpa were accomplished artists. My grandpa was a self taught wildlife – western painter as well as a musician with his own radio and TV show. One of the very first TV shows in Texas back in the 40’s and 50’s. My Dad is a Master Taxidermist and a wildlife bronze sculptor.
I studied any form of art that was available to me in my very early years…designing and making my own puppets and presenting puppet shows to Boulder, Colorado audiences as well as winning middle school and high school prizes for best original created Halloween costumes. After high school, the natural choice was to attend Colorado Institute of Art. During that time at the Art Institute, I taught art at Denver elementary schools. After graduation, I worked for several different design companies until I saw Jurassic Park and got the bug to do special effects. I got my start with FX West in Denver. A special effects company where I gained experience with live action special effects. Smoke, fire, gunshot wounds, you name it we did it. From there, I was able to get my foot in the door of Celluloid Studios. An animation studio specializing in combining traditional animation with live action. Just short of ten years working there, I was able to learn everything there is to know about the process of animation. Celluloid was one of the last fully traditional animation studios. I started inking and painting (with a brush on cells, not a mouse) and effects animation. After we went digital, I moved into compositing. Since we created both the live action and the animation, it gave me an opportunity to supervise the live action shoots, help with the animation and finally sit with the client for the final composite. In 2001 I made the move to Los Angeles. In the years living here, I’ve been able to achieve the knowledge of my passion that started it all. 3D animation. It’s limitlessness power to create anything fascinates me on a daily basis and always pushes me to test the boundaries of creation. I love it. I consider myself a generalist, but my favorite is by far, making things come to life with animation. I am currently freelancing again and I’m always looking to help out in any way I can using my broad background knowledge, expertise, and the sheer love of doing what I do.