IAN: Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself. 

 

I have dabbled in art and music my entire life but decided to get serious about an art career five years ago. Around this time, I was introduced to woodblock printmaking somewhat by happy accident. I found I had a passion for it and that the art form lent itself well to career strategies.
 

IAN: What is your favorite thing about being an artist? 

 

That first jolt of inspiration. It is a fleeting high like nothing else. Everything after is chasing that feeling.
 

IAN: If you wrote a book about your career as an artist so far, what would you title it and why? 

 

Social Media and Other Deals with the Devil. It is really hard to impress upon a new artist how much of their time will be spent not making art but doing marketing.  
 

IAN: What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

 

Obviously, you want people to love the work. You can’t think about that part. You must pursue your own feelings and reactions and let the reactions of others fall as they may. I do love it when someone is drawn to a piece for completely different reasons than why I was inspired to make it. Since a lot of my art involves birds, I’ve learned that bird lovers (affectionally known as ‘bird nerds’) are very unforgiving/critical about color choices and anatomical features of their favorite depicted species. I tend to do a lot of research before designing a piece, so I don’t drive them crazy with inaccuracies. 

 

IAN: Is there anything you would change about the art world? If so, what would it be? 
 

Reimbursement. It shouldn’t be so hard for young artists to get started, make at least a modest living, have health insurance, see a dentist occasionally.

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IAN: For those thinking about turning a passion for creating into a career, what advice would you give? 

 

Just start. Most people don’t start. Start small. Start local. You have to learn as you go, there is no other way. So just start.
 

IAN: We would love to hear about your creative process. What is your inspiration and starting point for a work? 

 

As for inspiration: I live in a rural area. Much of my inspiration comes from walking on country roads, in fields, in the woods.I take hundreds of pictures on my walks. As a starting point for a work: Woodblock printing is heavily reliant on composition. Color, if there is any, must be as minimal as possible and carefully planned out. This limitation is a fun challenge and I tend to do a lot of studies before starting. I’m an avid student of natural history illustration, particularly from the 19th century, so my compositional ethos is heavily influenced by the pioneers of the genre.
 

IAN: What artists and writers have been most foundational to you? 

 

Andrew Wyeth was my first love. Later it became the whole Wyeth clan, N.C. and Jamie.Sargent and Waterhouse are two other big ones. Edward Lear. From the print world, Lao Keinen, Ohara Koson, Erich Heckle, Ernest Kirchner (especially Kirchner). But to make a print as elegant as Tatsumi Shimura is always foremost in my mind.

IAN: If your portfolio was a spirit animal, what would it be? 

 

My spirit animal is the bat. Everything that comes out of me must also be in the spirit of the bat.
 

IAN: What are you working on next? 

 

St. Francis taming the wolf of Gubbio.