Duration: I moved to New York in the Fall of 2006 to pursue a career in print illustration.

Education: I graduated in the spring of 2005 from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and was a sketch artist for an ad agency when I decided to make the move to New York. The biggest influence on my decision to move to New York was my good friend Josh Cochran, who seemed to transition out of school directly into being a successful illustrator.

Staff: I usually work alone but recently took on an assistant.

Cultural Influences: My work evolved very quickly both during school and after I graduated. All of my student assignments had been paintings, but I knew that I didn’t want to paint for potential job assignments. Since the unifying element in all of my work has been my drawing, it was only a matter of time until I found a way to add color that was exciting to me. After lots of experimentation, I decided that I wanted to make illustrations that reflected the Disney animation and American comic book aesthetics I’d been exposed to as a kid.

Environment: I work from a studio that’s about a mile from my house.

Philosophy: I try to keep my work experimental, although there has to be a degree of consistency in order for someone to feel comfortable hiring you. I approach each assignment as a new challenge, and try to push myself every time, whether it be in aesthetics, concept or composition. Sometimes art directors will say that they would like something in a specific style while referring to a piece or two on my portfolio site; although that helps me understand what they want, it’s also kind of odd because I don’t think of myself as having a “style.”