ART EDUCATION: Self-taught.
STYLE: Realism to photorealism, with a focus on wildlife and western themes. Most of my work is black and white.
MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WAY YOU WORK: Scratchboard is most effective when there is dramatic lighting and a good range of values and textures. I love figuring out how to make some things look soft, others hard, and some look liquid or solid—all with just lines and dots.
SECOND-CHOICE CAREER: Nature and wildlife photographer.
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: I’ve always loved this quote by Thomas Edison because it is true in life and art: “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”
CREATIVE SPARK: My love for the outdoors and the natural world, especially the animals that inhabit it.
PRICE RANGE: $300 to $8,000.
GALLERIES: www.aphelionart.com.
Featured in our annual “21 Under 31” article in September 2009