I was Born in Long Island, New York but have spent most of my life in rural Pennsylvania. After High School I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and it was there my appreciation of art truly began. I sketched and doodled from time to time I never viewed it much more than a hobby and never pursued it any further.
Flash forward about 20 or so years to the autumn of 2009. I was diagnosed with stage 3 gastric/esophageal cancer (Gastric Adenocarcinoma). It was the biggest shock of my life. Christmas-Eve of that year I spent 8 hours at Hershey Cancer Institute receiving the first of many Chemo treatments. I soon realized that was one of many long days I had ahead of me. Have you ever heard the phrase "Idle hands are the devils playground." ? I soon came to understand that all too well. Sitting in one place while attached to tubes and nothing to do but think. With so much time I needed something to occupy my mind to help me stay positive and not dwell on the negatives.
I began to sketch again. For me there was no better way to pass the time. An amazing thing happens when drawing or painting you can only focus on the lines on the paper. Within the graphite and vellum I was in a different world, able to forget about the tubes, wires and chemical cocktails.
In the spring of 2010, I underwent a major surgery to have my entire stomach and part of my esophagus removed. Followed by a 6 week recovery period. After two months I began a 35 day course of Radiation and Chemo treatments and since that time I have been cancer free.
While many people would focus on the negatives of an experience like this I can honestly say this has changed my life for the better. I have become closer with my family. I walked away with a better appreciation for life and the precious short period of time we have here. I rediscovered a passion for creating art that I did not know existed.
In the last year I have been focusing this on learning how to oil paint. This started because I wanted to take my drawings one step further from black and white pencil. Each and every day I learn something new. So thank you for stopping by and if you like what you see please come back. Feel free to contact me as well.
** All fan art is copyright to the original creators of the characters. Use of the subject in my work is to display my skill set exclusively.
All other original art is copyright to myself or to the intent of creation
Flash forward about 20 or so years to the autumn of 2009. I was diagnosed with stage 3 gastric/esophageal cancer (Gastric Adenocarcinoma). It was the biggest shock of my life. Christmas-Eve of that year I spent 8 hours at Hershey Cancer Institute receiving the first of many Chemo treatments. I soon realized that was one of many long days I had ahead of me. Have you ever heard the phrase "Idle hands are the devils playground." ? I soon came to understand that all too well. Sitting in one place while attached to tubes and nothing to do but think. With so much time I needed something to occupy my mind to help me stay positive and not dwell on the negatives.
I began to sketch again. For me there was no better way to pass the time. An amazing thing happens when drawing or painting you can only focus on the lines on the paper. Within the graphite and vellum I was in a different world, able to forget about the tubes, wires and chemical cocktails.
In the spring of 2010, I underwent a major surgery to have my entire stomach and part of my esophagus removed. Followed by a 6 week recovery period. After two months I began a 35 day course of Radiation and Chemo treatments and since that time I have been cancer free.
While many people would focus on the negatives of an experience like this I can honestly say this has changed my life for the better. I have become closer with my family. I walked away with a better appreciation for life and the precious short period of time we have here. I rediscovered a passion for creating art that I did not know existed.
In the last year I have been focusing this on learning how to oil paint. This started because I wanted to take my drawings one step further from black and white pencil. Each and every day I learn something new. So thank you for stopping by and if you like what you see please come back. Feel free to contact me as well.
** All fan art is copyright to the original creators of the characters. Use of the subject in my work is to display my skill set exclusively.
All other original art is copyright to myself or to the intent of creation
