I first arrived here in the Northwest to pursue my career as a Software Engineer. I graduated from Cornell University in 2014 with a degree in Computer Science. On graduating I immediately began my career as an engineer at Microsoft where I stayed from 2014 to 2019. The technical and analyitcal skills I developed as an engineer continue to help motivate my analyitcal process when developing my paintings and drawings. I'm constantly thinking in terms of building a hierarchy of value, color, and edges. I'm also generally thinking in terms of process and how to build a workflow that enables me to solve problems in organized, nondestructive ways. These are essential skills I brought out of my technical and educational background.

My decision to pursue my dream of studying fine arts with a focus in drawing and oil painting brought me to the Gage Academy in 2019. When the pandemic hit, I took online illustration classes with the intention of exploring an atelier programs offerred inside the Gage system when in-person classes resumed. My time studying during that lockdown in 2020, convinced me that the Georgetown Atelier, with its focus on Imaginative Realism was the right pick for me.

As I complete my Atelier training in 2023 and begin building my portfolio pieces in color and charcoal, I'm beginning to build my creative voice. I'm interested in telling stories of inspirational figures through portraiture and imaginative realist compositions.

Landscape artwork is another major area I'll be investing my time into, partly to celebrate the beauty of the Northwest, and partly because I just really enjoy being outdoors and creating artwork wherever I find myself.

Finally, I remain a passionate engineer, and I seek to build new software projects and grow my technical skills. I'm currently building a portfolio of technical projects, starting with this very website which I built in NextJS. I'm always looking for projects that give me an excuse to try out new technologies, as well as refine my understanding of the patterns and practices I'm already familiar with.