Early Life and Education
Early life
My earliest awareness was a profound sense of otherness. It wasn't isolation imposed by my family, but rather an internal disconnect from my peers. Their games held little appeal; my solace was found in the vibrant world I created with a box of twelve 'Khoki' crayons, depleted weekly, each stroke a moment captured against the backdrop of a flickering 'Tom and Jerry' cartoon. This solitary pursuit, a nascent obsession, foreshadowed a lifelong pattern.
My adolescence and early adulthood were a crucible of trauma: sexual abuse, domestic violence, self-harm, and the chilling grip of suicidal thoughts. In the midst of that darkness, meaning seemed an impossible luxury, a question without an answer. Yet, as I now understand, a purpose was unfolding, a path laid by a force greater than myself.
That purpose, I believe, is to translate the visions of others into tangible art, to give form to what they cannot create themselves. The trials I endured forged a unique blend of humility and resilience, qualities that now inform my work and allow me to serve others with the gift I've been given.
Education
For the first decade of my education, I was fortunate to have teachers who recognised my unique learning style and nurtured my self-expression. They understood my high IQ, even as they navigated the complexities of undiagnosed ADHD, a condition that remained hidden until my thirties. This support allowed me to consistently excel academically, placing me among the top students. However, in my region, art was deemed an unproductive pursuit, and I was steered towards the sciences, particularly physics and chemistry, where I also demonstrated aptitude.
Ironically, my scientific understanding became a cornerstone of my artistic ability. The universe, in its own way, compensated for the lack of formal art education by placing extraordinary, albeit unsung, artists in my path. These mentors, driven by a profound appreciation for life's inherent beauty, became my true teachers. Their passion instilled in me the enduring belief that art is about seeing and sharing that beauty. And it is this beauty, this perspective, that I feel compelled to share with the world.
Career Highlights
- In 2011, I stepped into the fascinating realm of Photoshop and photo manipulation. Driven by a desire to master the art, I dedicated myself to self-learning for two years. This period of intense exploration led to a significant moment in August 2013, when my work was honored with a Daily Deviation award on the DeviantART platform.
- In 2014, my career took a significant leap forward when I signed with a publishing house. This led to a prolific year, creating over 50 book covers for them and other freelance clients. I also embraced the opportunity to give back to the artistic community by becoming a mentor in the official DeviantART mentorship program, and celebrated a personal victory by winning an art tournament.
- 2015 was a very big year for me. It started with me doing a commission for author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, to create the artwork for her merch for comicon and dragoncon that year.
- May 2015, I was featured in Photoshop Creative magazine.
- Early 2015 marked the start of an exciting collaboration with Ark Watch Publishers. I was initially brought on board to develop a series of artworks visualizing scenes from their teen novel. Impressed with my work, they further commissioned me to handle the coloring for the third graphic novel in their series.
- I was thrilled to have my artwork grace the cover of Suspense Magazine in December 2018, which also featured a front-page article highlighting my artistic journey.