Once upon a time, I was in a hurry to make things. I was the fastest painter and illustrator in my art classes. I was so impatient. I attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, but despite a full scholarship, dropped out after my foundation year because I couldn't afford the rent or an alternate commute.

Disillusioned, I started participating in renaissance festivals. The sadness of an incomplete NYC art school education was replaced with the joy of learning outside of a traditional academic format. I got to dress up in costume and have a lot of fun within a community of artists and performers, too.

I quickly became apprentice to the very amazing and unbelievably talented artist, Lauren Raine. That was in 1991. She taught me things I didn't and probably wouldn't learn at art school about painting. In 1997, she invited me to work one on one full time with her on mask making. Although I was reluctant at first, I found that masks were indeed a very rewarding outlet for my desire to sculpt and work on the human form, as well as my passion for mixing color.

Lauren initially told me that I had fantastic ideas, and plenty of talent, but I needed to slow down and take the time to make something worthwhile. I had heard the same criticism from one of my drawing teachers, Nachume Miller, back when I was at SVA.

That one piece of advice finally took hold, and about four years later, Lauren sold her shop at the Arizona Renaissance Festival to me with her blessings.

I'm always trying to make the best work I'm capable of. Instead of getting faster, in some ways I feel I've gotten slower as I continue to care more and more about how the final result looks and feels. I hope what you see in my shop reflects that desire.