How and when did you discover your talent for art?

There wasn't really a point when I 'discovered' it. It was a slow steady process, starting with the enjoyment of coloring and sketching when I was very young, and then taking it to another level of consciously practicing when I reached the age of about 12. Many people think that artists are just given the talent out of the blue, and yes, talent is a big part of it, but desire and practice are even more important. Just as you could be taught to build a house, you could also be taught to draw!

Did you choose this genre, or did it choose you?

I think it definitely chose me. I've always drawn fairies and fantasy, no matter what style or direction I tried with my art; it was always the underlying theme. I blame it partially on movies and cartoons I was interested in, and partially on something spiritual that I cannot really place.

What inspires your creations?

Oh a lot of things. Mostly what I see or read, and sometimes what I feel.  Movies that touch me or other artwork that touches me has been a huge influence on my subjects.  Artists will unconsciously draw themselves or things that represent themselves, so that part is there too. Art is the way that I connect with other people, so I am inspired by the prospect that someone who sees what I've drawn will understand a part of me that I cannot express in words, and that this will in turn, inspire them.

What's more important to you, the subject of your painting/project, or the way you execute it?

Hmm, that's tricky! I think I'd have to go with the way I execute it. I'm a stickler for technique, especially anatomy, proportion, and line work. I could produce a painting of my favorite subject in the world, but if I think I did a bad job of drawing it, I'll hate it.

Who are your favorite artists?

I have many favorites! Arthur Rackham, Harry Clarke, Anne Bachelier, Brian Froud, Ken Duncan, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, to name a few.

Do you think it's difficult to promote this genre in the mainstream art world?

It depends. People who work in gallery circles tend to look down onfantasy art and watercolor art in general, which I don't think is fair.  Just because it looks good on a mug and you can make money from it doesn't mean it shouldn't belong in a gallery. But the mainstream market is so full of fantasy art at the moment that it is both easy, because it's what people like, and difficult, because there's already so much out there. You have to find something that makes your work unique and marketable. And even then I've found it a slow process of meeting the right people.


How much time do you spend planning and creating your work?

Sometimes I don't spend any time at all, I'll just sit down and start drawing. And other times I'll have an idea in my head for months before I decide what medium I'll use and do several thumbnails before I begin. The longest I've ever worked on a single project is about a week.

How much time do you devote to marketing your work?

I find myself doing less artwork and more marketing in the spring months right before show season starts, because that's when I have to order prints and packaging and apply for shows and advertise and all that good stuff. Then In the summer between shows and the winter months I'll bulk up my inventory and make new things.

What venues have been the most successful for selling your work?

So far I have sold the most by working the show circuit. Even licensing endeavors and my website have not yielded as much revenue as being there in person and having my artwork right there for people to see.

What advice/reality check, do you have for aspiring artists?

Patience. Patience. Patience. I know it can be tempting to rush to get your work out there into the public eye. You draw fantasy art, and it's all the rage right now and you don't want to miss the wave. I've been there. But there's nothing worse than seeing someone who rushed themselves, when a few more years of honing their craft could have made their work so much better. People will recognize if your anatomy is off.  They will recognize if you don't know how to use the paint as well as you should. Putting yourself out there is difficult enough to begin with. Wait until you feel you have practiced enough, you respect your own work, and your craft is good. Then you will be more confident and your work will hold up too.