I was born in Wichita, Kansas sometime late in the day, near the end of April (the 21st), approximately somewhere in the latter 1950s (1958 to be exact). I spent almost a full 8 1/2 years in the vicinity before moving to Canada in late October, 1966. This became a sixteen year long adventure that really shaped my life - living there I became mellower and I almost learned to skate and play hockey (as well as growing adverse to long cold winters).
After high school I attended the Alberta College of Art (now Alberta College of Art and Design) and afterwards I spent two years working in small illustration studios, marking the beginning of my professional career. Missing the States I returned home in late October, 1982, after being hired on as an illustrator at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. Not exactly... but really close to eighteen years later we parted ways and I tried my hand at freelance illustration. I practiced that for two years and then was recruited to work for American Greetings with a chance to relocate to the Cleveland area. Hmmm? Move to Cleveland? Didn't their river catch on fire? Their football team leave town? Isn't it Canada cold in the winter? After an offer I couldn't refuse I took them up on it and I had a pretty good time concentrating on the greeting card world once again.
In the meantime I continued the freelance route in my spare time (ha! What spare time?) and secured a rep out of New York City (Mendola Artists Representatives), learned some new and nifty styles and techniques on the computer and after six years it was time for me to venture out on my own again. I'm back to the commercial world of illustration that I really love. By the way, I also learned how to skate well (the winters here really are long and cold) and when I'm not doing my art I do my best to emulate my favorite hockey stars. Well, it's a good thing I have illustration to fall back on.
So now you can find me living about a half mile south of the shores of Lake Erie in Avon Lake, Ohio with my gal, Toni; our dog, Bart; numerous kids (hers and mine) every now and then; sun in the summer, snow in the winter and take your chances in between. For now this will definitely do.
