I was born on December 25, 1966, in Louisville, Kentucky, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been creating. Art has always felt instinctual—more a part of who I am than something I learned. As a child of the 1970s, I was shaped by films like Jaws, Alien, and Star Wars. They didn’t just inspire me; they set the course for my life, pointing me toward worlds of storytelling, design, and imagination that I still explore today.
My creative path has taken many forms. In high school, I played in the band and even considered becoming a musician. At one point, my love of nature and the ocean led me to pursue marine biology in college. But no matter where my interests wandered, art always pulled me back. As I’ve said many times: “I was born an artist.” Eventually, I embraced that truth fully and shifted my focus to special effects makeup.
After earning a degree in Theater and Fine Art in 1989, I had the privilege of studying under Dick Smith—the legendary artist behind The Exorcist, Amadeus, and Dark Shadows. His mentorship gave me both technical knowledge and the confidence to forge my own path. Soon after, I broke into the film industry, working with Chris Walas (Gremlins, The Fly) and Steve Johnson (XFX) on projects like Species. Over the years, my credits grew to include Blade, Thinner, Steel, and even the Oscar-winning Titanic.
By 2000, I stepped away from Hollywood and broadened my horizons. I worked in the public, private, and commercial sectors—theme parks, aquariums, zoos, collectibles, and commissioned sculptures. These projects allowed me to take concepts from sketch to finished installation, blending sculpture, design, fabrication, and digital tools. From the very beginning, I’ve known three things: I was meant to be an artist, I have a deep love for science and nature, and I want my work to contribute to something greater than myself.
Today, I live in Wilmington NC, working as a freelance artist while exploring the future of creativity. I’ve embraced the digital frontier—programs like ZBrush, Blender, Maya, and Substance Painter—building hybrid workflows that connect the digital and physical. As AI reshapes the creative industry, I see it not as a threat but as a tool. Vision is what sets true creators apart, and that instinct—knowing what is right, meaningful, and original—is what I bring into every project.
I’m not driven by ego or recognition. What matters to me is collaboration, empathy, and making art that resonates—whether that’s a film creature, a piece of public art, or a digital design pipeline. With over three decades of experience across disciplines, I bring not just technical skill, but perspective and vision.
