“Growing up in Garland, Texas I was a dorky little kid that loved to draw.  Drawing was my passion.  And since I stunk at sports, I spent a lot of my spare time drawing - mainly hot rods and cartoons.  I drew on everything I could get my hands on - my school notebooks, church bulletins, napkins, the bottom of my tennis shoes.  I did some of my best work in those early days on my blue jeans.  I couldn't help myself.  I loved to draw.

My artistic inspiration came from the classics - Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tom and Jerry, Rocky and Bullwinkle.  I also loved cars and the guys that designed them like George Barris, Big Daddy Ed Roth, Tom Daniels and the great GM designers Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell.  And from the world of commercial illustration, my rock stars were Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker and Haddon Sundblom.

I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas with a BFA.  Then I attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where I majored in Industrial Design and Transportation Design.

After school, in 1982 I moved back to Nacogdoches and married Jill.  I landed my first job at Spradley Signs as a post hole digger (they didn't need a car designer).  Soon I worked my way up to sign painter and then eventually, Art Director.

Five years later, I ventured off on my own doing freelance graphic design and illustration.  I also built a reputation in East Texas as a mural artist doing work for various restaurants and businesses.

In 1990 I joined Design Strategy - a small design studio that specialized in business to business marketing through print advertising.

I took the position in 1992 at Hanson Design as Senior Art Director.  This award-winning design firm grew to be one of the top agencies in East Texas.  Our team of talented designers developed creative solutions that pushed the envelope of brand building and bla, bla, bla.  We designed really cool stuff and had a blast doing it. 

We also formed a side company called Wattu Wear, Art for the Human Torso - designing innovative apparel with a nostalgic twist.  Some of our creations were featured in Graphis Design Annual.