About the Artist

I was born in Arizona in 1953. Growing up in
a farming and ranching environment, I was
exposed to a way of life that I never will forget. In
high school I joined the Arizona Junior Rodeo
Association and rode bulls. During the summers I
drove tractor, irrigated or fed cows for local
farmers and ranchers. After graduating from high
school I worked horseback for a few feed lots and
cow - calf outfits. I also teamroped as much as
possible. At that time of my life I wanted to cowboy
for a living and rope as much as I could ....life was
simple ."

In 1977 I got married and moved to Phoenix
Arizona. I was riding pens at the time and the pay
was not something I could raise a family on. My
buddys’ father was a Union Electrician and
making good money, so we went down to the hall
and signed up. You might say I traded a cowboy
hat for a hard hat, but I still roped as much as I
could and helped friends gather and work cows
when time allowed. Life was good and my wife
Eileen and I raised two beautiful children, Megan
and Tyler.

During high school I ran across some prints in
a frame shop in Glendale Arizona. They were
reproductions by a pencil artist Robert Shufelt
(Shufly) and that is when my love for graphite
began. Graphite seemed to work well for the
cowboy subject matter. I am for the most part a
self taught artist, although I have taken classes at
Phoenix College and Scottsdale Artists School. I
really believe it is a God given talent, like someone
having an ear for music and that kinda thing. My
Father was an artist and my daughter has an eye
for it, but you have to hone those skills. You never
stop learning and improving your work.