Did you attend art school or undertake any other formal artistic training?

I did! I graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute's Animation Department in 2020, and was awarded the department's "Mentorship Award" alongside my BFA.

In Fall of 2022 I was accepted as an intern at "C3"-Creative Consumer Concepts, a children's marketing company. I had a wonderful time there, and after my time there was over I was approached a few more times to help with more motion graphics work for the company by commission.

Was creativity part of your childhood?

Pretty much from the start, yes.

My mother does theater as one of her hobbies and so I grew up with music and art as a massive part of my life. I've always been supported to pursue my dreams of being an artist from the moment we realized this is what I was always going to do. I would make little comics, flipbooks, and lots of fan-art of whatever shows I was watching. I was also in choir and orchestra (viola) from 13-18 yrs old (which I want to get back into someday.)

While I am an animator first, illustration is a passion of mine and I love to continue to grow my skills. I also do a bit of personal project writing on the side, though nothing publishing worthy just yet on that front.

Have you always loved to draw?

Absolutely. The moment it clicked for me that art was "my thing" was when I was probably around 8-9 years old. And I haven't stopped drawing (or animating) since.

Who or what have been some of your major artistic influences?

For the classics; Alfons Mucha, Gustav Dore, and Dutch Landscape painters

For Modern International; Hiromu Arakawa (manga creator, specifically for her work "Fullmetal Alchemist")

For Children's Media; Lauren Faust, Megan Nicole Dong

... and many many more.

What piece of software or hardware could you not live without and why?

My monitor drawing tablet (currently using the XP-Pen 22r Artist Pro)

I also rely on Clip Studio Paint EX, and Adobe After Effects as my programs of choice. Though I use photoshop occassionally.

What is your favourite medium to work with and why?

Digital. I took to it very easily when I was younger, and have stuck to it with loyalty ever since. As an animator it's crucial to my work.

I'm quite fond of black ink and greyscale markers as well, though I use them primarily as tools for exploring ideas first and foremost, with the intention of returning to the idea later digitally.

Do you keep a sketch book?

I do! Mostly I jot down notes or ideas, but it's definitely not "social media" worthy work. Very messy but annotated. It works for me!

Do you offer more than one style, if so – talk us through the different approaches and the audience you are targeting for each.

I do! While both are digital, my "cuter" style is intended for all ages while my more "semi-realism" style is usually intended for older audiences (young adult+, think 14+ rated Japanese comics)

I can bounce between the two very easily.

Have you ever thought about trying out a different technique or a different style?

Yes. I used to work a lot with black and white ink hatching in my teenage years, and with Gustav Dore and Japanese manga being a major influence of mine I'd like to get back to it in some way.

Do you have a favourite soundtrack you listen to when you’re working?

Oh absolutely--I have dozens of playlists specially curated around an idea or character (from my own projects).

Some personal favorite soundtracks;

Music from... The Great British Bake Off, Howl's Moving Castle, Hollow Knight (video game), & many many Broadway musicals

How do you overcome a creative block?

If there was only one thing I could take away from my years in college in relation to this, it would be to embrace the moments of "creative block." Because during that time is when I take in new inspirations, work on something that needs to get done (non-art related,) or when it's time to take a moment and rest up.

By using the word "block" it sounds like a very negative thing, but I prefer to see it as a step in a different direction. A stepping-block towards finding more artists, music, recipes, places to see in town, and time to take a literal step away and walk for a bit to get the creative juices flowing again.

What are some of your favourite subjects to draw?

Oh fantasy for sure. Dragons, dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and action / emotionally dramatic moments.

I'm also a fan of sci-fi, but I hardly ever draw it!

Are there any children’s classics you’d love to illustrate and/or re-tell?

I would LOVE to do a mostly silent retelling of Bambi! Preferrably in the form of a graphic novel.