I've been drawing since about the age of five when my architect father gave me access to his collection of graphite and Prismacolor pencils. Gradually, over the years, I cultivated my drawing techniques and style. At the age of 13, Science Fiction became my preferred subject matter, and I explored that genre for the next 10 years. I also added painting and sculpture to my repertoire.

In my early-to-mid 20's I found my interest drifting away from Science Fiction. A "dead" period followed although I did do some oil painting along the way. Then, with the release of the first Spielberg "Jurassic Park" movie, I was inspired to draw a subject I had forgotten about ------ dinosaurs! Rather than Science Fiction, my subjects were going to be based on Science Fact. I had discovered the perfect joining of my primary interests: Creatures (animals and other critters great and small) and Natural Science. I even added invertebrate subject matter to my lineup and I've found that to be a difficult but fun and satisfying challenge. It's been quite an adustment to go from exclusively illustrating life forms that essentially have four limbs attached to a spine (the basic tetrapod plan), to creatures with a multitude of limbs, no spinal column and an exoskelelton. Invertebrates have presented a significant opportunity for me to grow as an illustrator.

Today I work from my home-studio in Shelbyville, Kentucky (near Louisville). In preparation for work, I study scientific resources and consult with professionals in the areas of Paleontology and Geology. I'll be doing illustrations for Paleontologist Judy Lunquist for a book she's planning about horse evolution. Also, Judy is the author of Tracking Trilobites: Adventures in Paleontology , published by the University of Kentucky, 2005. It features one of my trilobite illustrations. Visit Judy's website by clicking here.

My preferred media are still colored pencil and graphite, although I also enjoy illustrating with oil paint. One of my illustrations, ("Troodon Snack"), appears in a children's book series titled Discovering Dinosaurs,published Fall 2002 by Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. (New York).

Other examples of my Paleontology-focused work include:
1999---An original 1/10 scale head-study sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex, a few castings of which have been purchased by collectors of dinosaur scale models.

June 2000---The custom design of a hatching dinosaur for the Lexington Children's Museum summer 2000 "Dinos All Day" event. The design was used for publicity and marketing (flyers, postcards, newspaper advertisements) and on t-shirts sold by the Children's Museum.

Some of my other illustrations have been published in the magazines Dinosaur World, and Prehistoric Times.

January 15, 2001---I was given an Honorable Mention Award for my color-rendering of a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex and Troodons scene (aka "Troodon Snack"), which I entered in the First International Contest of Dinosaur Illustration at the GEAL- Museu da Lourinhă in Portugal.

And in the Fall of 2001, I created the "Rupposaurus rex" for the University of Kentucky Basketball Museum. You may view a picture of the "Rupposaurus" by clicking on the link on my home page.

My educational background consists of a BA in Psychology (Major emphasis in neuroscience, and a Minor in anthropology) from the University of Texas at Austin; postgraduate study in anatomy and physiology, and an MSW from the University of Kentucky, after which I worked for three years and eight months as a medical social worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, KY. I currently work full-time (aside from illustration) as a Health Program Administrator for Kentucky state government,Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services. Since the summer of 1999, I have been a member of the Kentucky Paleontological Society (KPS). I served as the KPS's secretary from Spring 2000 to Fall 2003. I look forward to all the new things I'll get to illustrate and create in the years to come. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions for me or if you might like additional information about the art work I do. Contact information is on my home page. Thank you!