I had the good luck to be born into a creative Pittsburgh family who encouraged my artistic leanings. Drawing, painting, and sculpture seemed to come to me instinctively. But it took a long trek to a foundry in Texas, where I went to work finishing bronze sculptures, to convince me I needed some formal education. Back home, I earned a degree in visual communications from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, then joined the Matthews Bronze Works as a sculptor. There I created numerous bronze and aluminum bas reliefs, including portraits of seven Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. Working in three dimensions gave me a deep understanding of form that enriches my illustration and design work to this day.

My path took another turn in 1980, when I opened my own advertising and design office. Early on, I realized that a balance of tradition and technology would be essential for growth and creative exploration. Over the next two decades I matured as an artist, accumulated technical expertise, and learned how to run a company. I outgrew the business just a few years ago, and today I channel my energy into illustration, in collaborating with editors and art directors associated with publications, agencies, and corporations.