I think my curiosity about how various pieces and parts form something functional and my love for nature finally collided in my art. In high school, my art instructor Ken Valamaki, worked in a very abstract way and he encouraged me to see things from a different perspective. Through my cooperative education at Antioch I was allowed to explore different environments and discovered a mentor in Cape Cod. Matthew McPartland, of Wellfleet Steelworks, helped me understand the application of Arc welding through various marine applications. He was a mentor for me and opened doors for me through his teaching of a skilled trade. Between 1994-96 I worked for John Holt at Holt Race Cars. This experience opened my eyes to the craft of combining different metals through TIG welding. I pushed myself to find new inspiration and discover my own creative style.