Which of your works are you the most proud of and why?
The piece I’m most proud of is a self-portrait I created a few years ago. That work marked a major transition not only in my creative skill and style, but in my life.
At the time, I was living in a storage shed with only a few dollars to my name. My mother was battling breast cancer and life felt chaotic and uncertain. Despite everything, I held onto a dream I’d had since childhood: to draw every day.
Completing that artwork gave me my first true experience with hyperrealism and helped me realize that creating art full-time was possible. I felt a creative shift: one that happens when you pour your entire self into something and push beyond a level you once thought was unreachable.
Have you ever considered giving up on the creative industry? If so, what kept you going? If not, what is it that reassures you that you’re on the right path?
No, I’ve never considered giving up on the creative industry. I’ve seen, heard, and experienced the negatives, but I’ve been fighting long before I even entered the space: being told to give up and facing a lack of resources or money.
I made a decision to do my best and leave everything else to the Almighty. You never truly know if you’re on the right path; you just have to have faith and invest in the energy you choose, acknowledge, accept, and release.
What reassures me is Scripture:
““Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” — Matthew 6:25–27, 34 (NIV).
How has your work and your process changed over time?
My process hasn’t changed much over time, except that I now create or take my own references. I’ve always focused on creating work that truly matters to me.
Along the way, I make it a priority to learn new skills, explore new techniques, and challenge myself to make every piece better than the last even if the improvement is just one percent.
To summarize my process:
Pray.
Study and research.
Create or find references.
Gather materials.
Do my best to learn and improve.
Pray again.
Throughout the process, I focus on controlling the energy around me.
Of all of the projects you’ve worked on, which one was the most creatively fulfilling?
This is a tough one, but I would have to say “De Journey of a Lifetime” and the CDD Arts Program.
De Journey of a Lifetime allowed me to preserve the knowledge and wisdom of older generations and pass it on through visual storytelling.
The CDD Arts Program was fulfilling in a different but equally powerful way. Through it, I was able to help others learn, grow, and create at a higher level. Watching participants realize their goals and ambitions both creatively and personally was deeply rewarding and reaffirmed my purpose as an artist and educator.
When people engage with your work, what do you want them to get out of it?
When people engage with my work, I hope it inspires them, shares knowledge and wisdom, and brings positive energy. If there is a message within the work, I hope it is seen and felt.
More than anything, I hope that after walking away, they leave with confidence, faith, and motivation to create and with the understanding that anything is possible, but you have to start.
