This is an interview that was done about me for coolprogeny.com

I should start with an easy "tell me about your life" question but the monsters thing FASCINATES me! Talk to me about monsters. You write on your website that they inspire you.. (Although, as evident from your work, not in a creepy, scary kind of way). You and monsters. How did that relationship come into existence?
Well before I can talk about monsters I need to give you a little backstory that leads its way to monsters. In High School I was told by an art teacher that I should not pursue art any more. The teacher said that I should find something else to do. So, I listened to him and went to Towson University for Communications Studies and liked it. While I was there I took a graphic design course for non-art majors and fell in love with it because I could create art on the computer. I then went to Pratt Institute in NYC for a Masters Degree in Graphic Design.

After Pratt, my wife and I moved back to Baltimore. I worked in graphic design for about 10 years for a couple different design firms and loved it! However, I never did any drawing or painting during this time. While I was working as a designer my wife found an ad for a career fair at CCBC looking for adjunct faculty, and she urged me to go. It was the best thing, I fell in love with teaching and started teaching as an adjunct in the evenings while working full time as a designer. After a few semesters, CCBC hired me as a full time professor in the Art Design and Interactive Media department. I have been teaching there full time since August 2006.

Ok, back to monsters!!   My son has loved to draw ever since he could hold a crayon. So, I would sit with him while he was coloring and realized that I too LOVE drawing. In fact he would get bored and move on to another activity, and I would still be focused on drawing. So there was a 15 year gap of me creating art. But now it is like a new box of toys has just been put in front of me and I have to open and play with them all. That is why my art is all over the place because I am still exploring and finding new techniques. I really started drawing frequently with my son when he was 4 and now he is 7. So I have only really been drawing for three years.

Ok, so why do monsters inspire me? They are the epitome of freedom. They can be whatever you want them to be. Nobody can tell you that you drew the monster wrong. Nobody can tell you that the arms are too short, or that they can’t have three arms. Nobody knows what a monster looks like, so there can be no judgment. I also love monsters because you can be totally free and be like a kid again. I think so many adults forget the idea of being free and just doing something without hesitation. And to me drawing monsters gives me that feeling of being a kid. And I love it. You should try it!!

This relates back to the first part of my story, and my high school art teacher.   When I draw monsters there can be nobody telling me that I should not be doing this.

Obviously you're a creative person! Take us through the process. How does a work evolve from an idea to a final product? And how does all of that happen with two small kids in tow?
Ha. Yes well it is difficult with two kids. You have to pick your moments. Usually it is my stress relief.  Being a creative person I get inspired by the littlest and most random things. I also have my phone or a notebook with me at all times to record inspiration, so that I can use it later. It is tough to say how a process goes. It is like asking a comedian to be funny on the spot. But here is my best attempt at it: a lot of time my art evolves by chance, mistakes, and having fun. 

My detailed black and white pieces start with a doodle and work their way into some weird intricate design. With those pieces I never draw in pencil first, I let the pen kind of take me where it needs to go. For my spray paint and painted pieces I have a general idea of colors I want to use or I will know I want to create a piece that involves drips or splatter and then the fun part begins. I go outside and just have fun. I relate back to the idea of the monsters and the feeling of playing and letting your inner child out. A huge part of my process is to have fun. If I am not having fun then I am doing something wrong. When I first created my monster letters, again I was sitting with Landon and I was drawing letters- I am a big typography nut- and I was drawing ones that were mushy and blobby and then Landon said, “Put eyes on it!!!”,  and from that simple comment came a whole alphabet and many more products. So again, starting with a doodle, playing around and then having fun, is a common creative process for my art.

You've actually got two businesses up and running -- a graphic design business and a fine art business. Do you sleep? {No, really, do you sleep?} Can you give us the elevator pitch for both?
Ok, so I teach full time, have my own graphic design business, my own art/illustration business, I run 4 times a week and have two kids. My students always ask me If I ever sleep, so I had to chuckle when I read this. They are convinced I am a robot.  And to answer your question I sleep, but from the hours of 11:30-5:30, I'm a morning person!

Ok, so here is the pitch for the design business,  I create unique, one of a kind design work that you cannot get from any other design firm. We take time and a lot of energy to make your business better through design and marketing. We don’t just design we create the product that you need that will help your business grow.

The pitch for my fine art: All of my art is unique to me and is unlike any other type of art. I have a range of products and a range of mediums. My work is fun, interesting, silly at times, and intricate. Part of drawing is seeing the world through my eyes and that is exactly what you get: a view into my world. If you are looking for a replica of a landscape I am not your guy. But if you are looking for something that is fun, unique and interesting, then look no further.  That is funny I have never had to pitch my art before since I am somewhat new to this. I am used to pitching the design side of my life.

You work in a variety of mediums. Pen and Ink, Markers, Water Color, Spray Paint, and Digital... have a favorite? How about your kids? What are their favorite media to work with?
Oh man that is a tough question because each medium has a unique quality. But I would say my favorite would have to be markers. I have done digital for years and I think I have mastered it and it is not as exciting. I love spray paint and would not want to part with it, but I cannot do it all the time. Spray painting inside is not ideal. So makers are fun and have the most versatility. And I draw with a particular type of marker, Copic markers, that almost looks like watercolor.

My son loves markers, he might be the only 7 year old that has his own set of Copic markers, Micron pens, and spray paint. My daughter loves markers as well. They both do not like colored pencils or crayons.

If you had to name them right now, what three things inspire you?
My Kids, Laughter/Fun, and Seeing other people draw

Favorite way to kick back with the fam?
Jumping on the trampoline. I am really just a kid at heart. Hanging out at home running around, playing games, inventing something, playing wii, really anything as long as I am together with them. I always wanted to be the Dad that made it to every sports game and never put their job ahead of their life. And that is what I always strive for.

My absolute favorite thing is when Landon is outside with me while I am spray painting in the front yard and he is spray painting his own art along side of me. And my 4 year old, Lila, will sometimes be out there as well suggesting what colors I should use next. To me that is just the ultimate joy.