It all started when...
I was 13 years old when I started painting, though not through a traditional school system or art program. In an unexpected turn of events, the doors opened for me to be privately tutored by local artist and educator, Bonnie Christiansen, who hosted weekly classes at the Young at Heart Senior Center. All through my high school years, I was nurtured in the artistic discipline amongst students 4 times my age!
As I matured in my artistry, I began entering local, state, and national art competitions, quickly climbing the ranks as a young talent. Most notably, I won the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition in 2015, and the Best of Show award for the Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Competition in 2016, which placed my artwork on the face of the conservation stamps for the following year in both contests. This recognition in the national and state arenas bolstered my confidence and jump-started my fledgling art career.
In my formal education, I opted for a path that diversified my personal knowledge base and experience. Instead of pursuing a degree in Fine Art from a university, I took a fast paced, 2 year correspondence-school art program through Art Instruction Schools, plus obtaining a 4 year Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management through Thomas Edison State University (debt free!). During my college years, I branched out into creating pottery under Bart Fetz, a professor at Western Wyoming Community College. I was immediately addicted to the new medium, and was soon creating and selling custom sets of mugs to coffee shops and other businesses in the local area. I also took two summer internships with the Education Department of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, teaching a wide range of painting classes to every age - from children to senior citizens.
I have been dreaming of the day I can make art my career for over 10 years. The 13 year-old me could’ve never imagined that he would be starting his own art gallery one day. It’s surreal. I am so excited to share my art with you, teach you what I’ve learned, and show you how beautiful God’s world really is.
All Glory Be To Christ.
