Some of my first memories are of drawing with my father. He was my stay-at-home parent growing up, and taught me all kinds of things about life, one of which was how to use my hands to create. A machinist and computer programmer by trade, he had a perspective on drawing that always stuck with me, and I always revisit when I am struggling with illustration: it’s just shapes. Though simple, it allows me to return to the basics when I’m solving a drawing problem or confronting my own struggles as I improve my craft.
Being a character illustrator for my entire life has allowed me comprehensive knowledge of effective and relatable designs. I was inspired by educational television as a child, and my dad encouraged me to express my love for my favorite characters through art. From there, I remained intensely interested in all kinds of media, finding a love for Japanese anime and adult American cartoons in particular. Ever inspired by the endless possibilities of story weaving and design, I began to create my own characters and stories. Between illustration and writing, I knew that the arts were magic on earth to me.
With my love of creating in tow, I achieved my B.A. in Art from UC Santa Barbara in 2024, a university I picked specifically for its research-oriented curricula. During my undergraduate years, I found a word for my craft: concept art. As a result, I am a proud artist with experience in several fields, including education, publishing, and computer science. I now work as a concept artist, voice actor, and character designer on two indie animations, have done freelance illustrations for online media, and produce my own webcomic. Additionally, I have recently been accepted into the BRIC Foundation’s concept art/visual development apprenticeship pool, allowing me to finally realize my dream of becoming a concept artist for a studio.
Art, particularly drawing, was a way I could express myself when words failed, and was a positive outlet for my energy. My genuine hope is that everyone can see a bit of themselves in my characters, so I focus on people of all backgrounds, often lacing human character designs with fantasy elements to create something intriguing yet accessible. I intend for my work to never exist in a vacuum, which motivates me to keep learning every single day.