MY ART EXPERIENCE
How it all started
My art experience started in a small single parent home just like everyone else in my metro Atlanta community. We moved around a lot and as I went
to so many different schools I filled my time drawing and doodling all over my homework papers and desk. My teachers suggested I go to an occupational
school for commercial art. Once I graduated high school I continued my education at the Atlanta College of Art and eventually migrated to an advertising
design course at Dekalb Tech under Ray Shead. A few of my neighbors were professional commercial artists and convinced me to expand my education.
at the Portfolio Center. I attended the school for a year in the art direction program before Rob Lawton and Mike Jones Kelly convinced me to run away
with the Circus. I joined the graphic design course at the Creative Circus, where after four schools finally graduated.
Early Career Years
While I was in school I worked at Pearl Arts and Paint as a picture framer. I learned so much about art and art mediums there that I feel like
I have a B.A in fine art. I had the privilege to also work for Tower Records creating in-house music displays using the airbrush and working
for a few small graphic design shops with large clients like Snapper Mower. I landed a great opportunity to work at a large mega start-up
called Thought Mill Corp. There I got a taste of a large corporation. I spent most of my early twenties working with a team on software graphics
for the Digital Showroom, which was a kiosk for the Contract Furniture and Interior design community.
From Furniture to the Automotive Industry
I eventually left the company to work for Argos Marketing, which made smart.pdf e-commerce technology which are just fancy.pdfs catalogs with
shopping carts attached to the java code. The company did not last long and I got an offer to work for a advertising Agency Stammel and partners.
This company did not last long as well but I got a taste of a fast pace environment and how the pitch works. It was a great opportunity to work on
accounts like DHL and others. In 2007 the company faded, but one of the owners, who had once been A client of Stammel and Partners liked my
work and hired me to work on his company's Fortec Custom Jeep website, brochures and product catalog. It was only supposed to be a temporary
position but somehow I have now been there for over eighteen years.
Present Day
While at Fortec I learned how to create, install and remove vinyl on Jeeps. I now have my own vinyl and laser studio where I run a small side hustle
selling pre-made decals and laser products. I also picked up sign painting by rubbing shoulders with the great Larry West who is a famous pin stripper
and sign painter in the metro Atlanta area. I spent many afternoons at his shop learning what I could about hand lettering with a can of one shot
and brush. I will never be at this level but find myself lettering daily. I also have three or more easels going in my art studio. I am not yet commercially
driven too where I have a rep and a marketable style. I do not wish to be locked down but want to paint in every style and medium. Because of this
I have paintings all over the place, including in the attic. I sell them for little money here on this site and eBay so that they leave my house. After
I paint it the joy goes away and I do not want to see them. I mostly paint with oil and oil pastels mostly because I have very little time to paint.
I have acquired a router table, bandsaw and jigsaw so expect to see some wood art in the near future.
How it all started
My art experience started in a small single parent home just like everyone else in my metro Atlanta community. We moved around a lot and as I wentto so many different schools I filled my time drawing and doodling all over my homework papers and desk. My teachers suggested I go to an occupational
school for commercial art. Once I graduated high school I continued my education at the Atlanta College of Art and eventually migrated to an advertising
design course at Dekalb Tech under Ray Shead. A few of my neighbors were professional commercial artists and convinced me to expand my education.
at the Portfolio Center. I attended the school for a year in the art direction program before Rob Lawton and Mike Jones Kelly convinced me to run away
with the Circus. I joined the graphic design course at the Creative Circus, where after four schools finally graduated.
Early Career Years
While I was in school I worked at Pearl Arts and Paint as a picture framer. I learned so much about art and art mediums there that I feel likeI have a B.A in fine art. I had the privilege to also work for Tower Records creating in-house music displays using the airbrush and working
for a few small graphic design shops with large clients like Snapper Mower. I landed a great opportunity to work at a large mega start-up
called Thought Mill Corp. There I got a taste of a large corporation. I spent most of my early twenties working with a team on software graphics
for the Digital Showroom, which was a kiosk for the Contract Furniture and Interior design community.
From Furniture to the Automotive Industry
I eventually left the company to work for Argos Marketing, which made smart.pdf e-commerce technology which are just fancy.pdfs catalogs withshopping carts attached to the java code. The company did not last long and I got an offer to work for a advertising Agency Stammel and partners.
This company did not last long as well but I got a taste of a fast pace environment and how the pitch works. It was a great opportunity to work on
accounts like DHL and others. In 2007 the company faded, but one of the owners, who had once been A client of Stammel and Partners liked my
work and hired me to work on his company's Fortec Custom Jeep website, brochures and product catalog. It was only supposed to be a temporary
position but somehow I have now been there for over eighteen years.
Present Day
While at Fortec I learned how to create, install and remove vinyl on Jeeps. I now have my own vinyl and laser studio where I run a small side hustleselling pre-made decals and laser products. I also picked up sign painting by rubbing shoulders with the great Larry West who is a famous pin stripper
and sign painter in the metro Atlanta area. I spent many afternoons at his shop learning what I could about hand lettering with a can of one shot
and brush. I will never be at this level but find myself lettering daily. I also have three or more easels going in my art studio. I am not yet commercially
driven too where I have a rep and a marketable style. I do not wish to be locked down but want to paint in every style and medium. Because of this
I have paintings all over the place, including in the attic. I sell them for little money here on this site and eBay so that they leave my house. After
I paint it the joy goes away and I do not want to see them. I mostly paint with oil and oil pastels mostly because I have very little time to paint.
I have acquired a router table, bandsaw and jigsaw so expect to see some wood art in the near future.