Hello!
One of the questions I get asked most is "How long have you been drawing airplanes?" The answer is simple - for as long as I can remember! A couple of my uncles tell me that they could identify the airplanes I was drawing by the time I was five years old. All I know is that aviation has been a continuous interest, and at times my livelihood, throughout my life. I spent my childhood and teen years becoming an expert in all aspects of aviation, with an emphasis on the U.S. Air Force. My dream was to fly fighters.My art was just a way of expressing my desire to fly. After a few years of college (I managed to compress a two year degree into three years!) I enlisted in the Air Force and became a Crew Chief. Within a few years, I'd been selected to finish college and go on to pilot training - I was on my way! Then a review of my medical records reminded the powers that be that I'd suffered a major back injury and my dream of flying fighters vaporized.
I'd been playing with my art off and on since college (where I took one art class) and I began to draw consistently again. Drawing allowed me to keep the aviation dream going. I left the Air Force just as Desert Shield/Desert Storm was kicking off and ended up in the California Air National Guard, working in intelligence. That lasted less than two years and it was back to being a crew chief. Life got in the way, and by any reasonable measure, I stopped drawing. The 90's saw me complete only two drawings. I was fully immersed in learning the graphics trade. That was how I made my living and fed my family until I re-injured my back in the fall of 2000.
During my recovery from major back surgery, I saw a sign at the local airport advertising an aviation art show. So, I dusted off a bunch of my old pieces and set up a display. Monetarily, the show was a bust! I didn't have enough work to sell. I set about correcting that shortcoming and have been drawing like a nut ever since.
More than a dozen commissions, and another dozen freelance pieces later, I'm now a working aviation artist. I accept commissions for all types of aircraft. I'm also continuing to build my inventory of freelance work. Just because you don't see a particular plane, doesn't mean I'm not already working on one! Just ask!
