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Tell us about yourself. How did you first get started making art?
I am a San Diego native for 38 years. I own a tattoo shop and I have tattooed for 18 years and oil-painted for 12. I also enjoy building old cars and trucks in my spare time. I started doing art from the young age of five, then moved on to art in my free time before becoming a tattoo artist at the age of 17. After tattooing and doing tattoo-related art, I started painting with oils, watercolor and airbrush. I am part of an art collective called the Diamond Dogs. We are based out of San Diego but have factions in Los Angeles and New York. We consist of painters, tattoo artist, DJs, carpenters, cooks, hair dressers, web designer etc….

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Inspiration comes from the source of satisfaction the art brings to those who are not artist, but appreciate the form for which the art takes in their heart and soul. Art is a source of healing in a world that can sometimes be rough around the edges.

What do you love most about what you do?
My passion and love comes from the point of what I express on both skin and canvas. I love that what I do brings others to the same plane of emotional oneness with the art they receive through the visual process.

Do you engage in or draw inspiration from any other art forms?
I also do poetry and life sculpting which in turn feeds the other realms of art I enjoy. One form of art should always be used to enhance the others in a constant process of growth.

How would you describe your process?
A typical day of art is never the same but the most popular for me is this: I allow a canvas to hang on the wall blank for up to a period of 6 months sometimes before I actually allow a painted brush to have contact. Most of the time, I will have to look at the canvas over and over while using pictures or life forms as reference before I am comfortable starting the art piece. Then at 3am, out of nowhere, I will start the piece. Most of the time, I will do 85 percent of the painting in one session, then follow up with the fine tuning a couple days later. Other times, I work the whole piece in one session. Still, In the end, I never feel a piece is complete or finished.

Medium of choice?
My medium of choice is oil on canvas, with the exceptions of mixed media for example; oil with air brush overlays, or oil on wood with pen and ink. I as well enjoy doing water color on paper.

Any accomplishments/collaborations/projects that you are most proud of?
Currently have a show for the month of August in Santa Ana at the GCS gallery, with bookings for showings in Pomona and San Francisco in December. I have had three different shows in Hollywood with the art collective {Diamond Dogs} in the past 2 years.

Any aspirations for your artistic career?
My ultimate goal is to make tattooing a hobby and painting my profession, my dream is to have my art received world wide and to be in search of those artists that need exposure for the talents they posses.

Why showcase with RAW?
RAW is a great way for artist to be involved in a movement that falls in the pages of helping for the greater good. As a non profit they are there to help those who have talent but not yet recognized.

When you aren't busy making art, how do you enjoy spending your free time? 
Outside of doing art I look for the art in everything. I enjoy the company of good people with or without the same goals and aspirations of myself. And last but not least, I love my friends and family and enjoy my animals whish are a true blessing.