I’ve finally had the opportunity to post all the prints in my current inventory for sale right here on the website!  You can click the “Shop” link to purchase art prints and have them shipped directly to you!  I’m also going to start posting some of my original pieces for sale as well, once I figure out the best way to handle shipping.  Along with traditional canvas paintings or framed flat pieces, I’m also working on some interesting “craftier” pieces that will make their way to the shop as well.

Commissions are always open, too!  I’ve made quite a few commission pieces recently, including pour painting an electric guitar, and it’s always fun meeting the challenges of someone else’s vision!  Message me for YOUR request anytime!

Yeah, I’m a little late for New Year’s.  I also haven’t posted anything in ages.  I’m okay with it, and here’s why.

The second half of 2018 took me by surprise.  When I started this website, I originally intended to blog about art for a while and slowly – sloooooooowly – build an art business as I learned and practiced and experimented.  What actually happened was a little different!  Thanks to a wonderfully supportive partner, opportunities for showing and my paintings came quickly and conveniently, and suddenly people were buying things I had made.  This encouraged me to keep making, and to keep experimenting regularly, and before I knew it, I had an art business up and running!  I taught some painting classes, started stocking prints of my original pieces, and even began live painting at music shows.  My artistic talents were being commissioned, I was being asked to collaborate with other artists and performers…  I was feeling pretty damn artsy.

Then the calendar page turned and it was 2019 already.  January 1st was a pretty big day, and not just because of the holiday.  January 1st was the day I started to realize I AM an artist.  A brainstorming session led to the creation of a new performance-based visual art style to tackle as my first project of the new year, and within 48 hours I was already making that idea happen at full scale.  Two weeks later (that’s now) I have a body of work created with new techniques in a new medium, and I’ve learned and developed interesting strategies to keep the artform moving forward in my life.  I’ve also taken some new ideas to the things I had been doing last year, with stunning results.  My new stuff is already grabbing attention and earning commissions and sales, too, which is a nice little cherry on top of the personal success I’ve already found in this endeavor.  I’ll share more about what I’m doing once I have some video to accompany photos, since it really is meant to be a performance experience instead of just a flat piece of art, but here’s a sneak peak at a favorite piece:

Now, I’m looking at a plethora of interesting options, most of which are closely tied to the art world in some way.  I’m getting more involved in a local innovation-based collaborative, I’m a regular at one of Cleveland’s biggest art hubs (and may end up with my own studio space there), I’m discussing an option to return to my event planning roots by helping with a very successful chain of craft fairs/art shows in northeast Ohio…  The possibilities seem endless these days, and it’s making me feel more alive than I have in a long, long time.  Possibly ever!  Having the support of my partner, my family, and an entire network of like-minded creators has established a world in which I can finally live happily.  There’s progress, purpose, and positivity in every single day (even the bad days), which is a totally new phenomenon to me.

I’m excited to embrace 2019 and all the magic I just KNOW is in store for me!

See you on the other side!

Wow, this is a really exciting post to write!

I’ve been a little on the quiet side lately because I’ve been very busy with shows and conventions, but also because I’ve been working very hard to set up some very cool new opportunities in the art world.  Finally, I get to share my love of “making stuff” with the world: I’ll be teaching art and crafting classes all over northern Ohio!

I’ll have all sorts of fun things for you to try!

Classes are already scheduled in Euclid and Akron, and a venue in Parma is pending (I should know by the end of the week).  I have a few Halloween events open right now for sign ups, and additional holiday classes in the works.  Check out the new tab at the top of the page for more information!  You’ll find any classes for which registration goes through me on the Classes tab.  ALL events, including my upcoming shows and classes for which registration will go through another host, can be found under the Events tab.

I’ll also be offering private events for charities, corporations, and individuals.  Craft classes are great for fundraisers, birthdays, team building, and more!  If you’re interested in hosting an event, please contact me for details.  And definitely check out a class or two – be sure to bring your friends!

As of yesterday, I am once again a college student!  It’s been quite a while since I took a formal class for anything, but I’m excited to share that I am going to be taking some art classes over the next few months.  Yes, I’m already an artist of sorts – but I’m far from capable when it comes to so very many types of art!

Anytime you can use an Adam Sandler reference, use it.

For now it’s just one class, an introductory drawing class to help me work on linework and drawing from observation.  As a creative-type, my mind is constantly bursting with images and ideas that I want to put into physical form.  Often, drawing/sketching would be a great way to get started on a project, whether it’s putting together a visual for a craft, or starting an image for a painting or other media work.  Unfortunately, my drawing skills are lamentable.

But that’s okay!  Art doesn’t have to be wonderful every time, and it can take years to develop skills like drawing.  I haven’t had the opportunity in the past to devote so much time to proper instruction, but now that I have the time, money, and drive, it’s time to start working on the next new skill.

Drawing pencils and a blank sketchbook. The possibilities are limitless.

Personal enrichment is a good enough reason to keep taking classes and learning new skills.  One of my favorite songs declares “I want a life that’s a work in progress” and that’s me to a T.  Complacency is not my game.  I thrive on change and growth of knowledge and skills.  There is always another thing to learn or project to improve.  I see people who have reached a point in their life where they’ve decided they’re “done”, there’s nothing more to achieve, and they just sit back and coast.  This doesn’t make sense to me when there’s an entire world out there full of amazing things.

Someone once said “the more time you spend inside of your comfort zone, the smaller it gets; the more time you spend outside of your comfort zone, the larger it gets.”  From living my life so far, I can verify that this is 100% true!  Get out there, try new things, push yourself a little at a time, and never be satisfied!

You’re going to miss out on SO MUCH if you decide to stop.