About ME
How did we get here?
I had a great childhood, split between living with my Mom until I was 10 and then moving in with my Dad. My mom’s way of life was more creative and free-thinking, which wasn’t a bad thing. I was exposed to a lot of music, art, and independence during those years. When I moved in with my Dad, I learned about discipline and how to push through things, not just for instant satisfaction but for long-term success. That discipline came from my dad’s experience growing up and at the Tennessee Military Institute, which also prepared me for my own time in the service.
I was fortunate to have a lot of great influences growing up. My stepmother, Punky, was incredibly smart and she showed me the value of hard work. My grandparents were steadfast and caring, always there for me. My dad’s values revolved around service and giving back to the community, while my mom gave me a creative outlook on life. Together, they shaped my approach to creativity and discipline in a way that’s stayed with me.
I first discovered my passion for art when I was young, living out in the country where I had to entertain myself. I was always drawing or making things, like cutting up egg cartons and turning them into little soldiers. By the time I was in third or fourth grade, I realized I had a creative side that was stronger than some of the other kids. It wasn’t until high school, though, that I really felt like my art stood out. I entered an art contest at Discovery Place in downtown Charlotte and submitted a pencil drawing of motorcycles racing. That was the first time I won an award for my art, and it inspired me to pursue it further. I wanted to do art in the military, but the opportunities were limited, so I ended up in combat arms.
Joining the Army at 18 turned out to be the perfect transition for me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was searching for the brotherhood and camaraderie that come from serving with others. My experiences in the military helped shape me and, in a way, brought me back to my creative roots later on. Much of the sculpture work I do now is tied to the military community, starting with a World War I sculpture and continuing with projects for the Navy, Navy Special Operations Foundation, and Veterans Bridge Home. My art is deeply connected to the community I built during my time in the Army.
One of the biggest milestones in my career was winning two Emmy Awards. The first was for 3D animation on a Dead Sea Scrolls documentary, and the second for Technical Achievement, which I developed with Andrew Manzella and Rosanna Seider, came right after I returned from Iraq. Winning that second Emmy marked a major transition for me—from my time in the military back to a creative role. It made me realize I wanted to dig deeper into learning new skills, especially as technology and creativity were evolving so rapidly. I started learning more about matte painting and compositing, and from there, I explored virtual worlds, augmented reality, and 360 video. That moment really pushed me to keep building on my skill set, not just stick with what I knew.
My creative process is cyclical. I go through phases where I feel pulled to work on one medium—whether it’s traditional art, video production, 3D animation, or sculpture. It’s like a room full of candles that are barely burning but one flares up. Once I’ve worked through an urge in one area, I move on to the next, and the cycle continues. The one constant, though, is 3D modeling. It feels like the epicenter of my creative process, with everything else floating around it. I love working in 3D spaces because what I create can often be used later on in other ways.
While balancing all of these creative pursuits can be challenging, it’s not unmanageable. I think what keeps it all flowing is the way each medium builds on the others. It’s like a snowball effect—sometimes I don’t realize until later how something I’ve learned comes into play. Even though some people might think I never concentrate on one thing, I actually enjoy switching between media. There’s so much to do, and I feel like I’m always on a timeline to make the most of it.