I was raised in the Vernal, Utah. I have fond memories of the quiet rural farmlands that surround my childhood. It was an inspiring place to grow-up and an amazing place to experience the outdoors.
After high school I moved to Salt Lake City and spent a year at ITT in their drafting program. I loved to create and dreamed of being an architect. I soon realized I didn't want to spend my life drawing other's architectural plans, but did want to spend my life drawing.
Later, I enrolled at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. I spent a year and a half there developing and strengthening my portfolio, at which time I was accepted into the Brigham Young University art program.
I spent a year in BYU's general art program and finished my degree in the Fine Art program with an emphasis in Illustration. The Illustration program was great for its technical training in both drawing and painting and more specifically its figurative applications. In my studies I had the opportunity to study under and learn a great deal from Robert Barrett and William Whitaker.
After graduating I dedicated a year solely to painting where I found my roots coming out in the landscapes I painted on the canvas. In the spring of '05 I took up representation with a gallery in Salt Lake City and found immediate success. In September of 2005 I was highlighted in Southwest Art's annual "21 under 31" article.
I currently live in Salt Lake City with my two children where I paint full-time in my home studio. I am constantly working toward my long-term goal of opening a studio/gallery. Although I have lived in the Salt Lake area for over 14 years, Vernal will always resonate in my heart as home and the inspiration for much of my work.
