Tell us how you first became interested in creating art.
There really wasn't a first for me becoming interested in creating arts but rather a series of people in my life at
a very young age which peaks my curiosity and encouraged me to create art.
The first being my mother. My mom made sure to enter me in all the different sports. She could make me participate in every imaginable start of activity and I owe her so much for all the sacrifices she made for the opportunities that she created for me. One such opportunity were coloring contests when I was young. When I was five and six years old, my mom brought home about five coloring contests for local businesses for me. I really put a lot of effort into those coloring pages, and did what most other kids don't do and that I not only colored the picture but I created images in the background which no other kids were doing. Is this what set me apart, and I was fortunate enough that I won every one of these contests.
The second major influence was my childhood friend Scott, who I met in grade 3. Scott was so cool, had awesome trendy clothes for that age, spoke using words like awesome and radical, and he was an exceptionally talented artist for that age. He could draw anything and it looked amazing. I was especially interested in his 3D letters.
With each new piece, I try to do something a little more than I did last time
I could not figure out how to make them myself. He taught me how to do these, and I used these on every school project possible throughout all of my education, and got top marks. Thank you, Scott.
Art took a long hiatus from my life as I focused on earning two professional degrees in college while competing in figure skating and triathlons. It wasn't until 2014 that I met my partner, John, who is also a talented artist. He encouraged me to start creating art again. And that is really when my art journey truly began being around John and him constantly working on different art projects inspired me to start getting crafty again.
My work can be appreciated from afar, but close examination is necessary to get the full experience
How did the idea of using lottery tickets to create artworks come about?
I had been playing the lottery off and on for several years and had accumulated quite a number of non-winning scratcher lottery tickets.
I didn't want to throw these out because I had paid so much money for them; it just felt like such a waste. So I saved them and thought that I would come up with some sort of project to do with them but really had no idea. I saw a really neat mosaic pattern on the internet; it was very colorful, and I thought to myself that I could maybe use the lottery tickets to make the mosaic. And that is where it started.
My artwork has really transformed over the years as initially I just started out with a simple Mosaic pattern which is two dimensional, and every piece that I have created I have really challenged myself and have started to include three-dimensional aspects by hand making sculptures which are then incorporated into the artwork. With each new piece, I try to do something a little more than I did last time. It has really paid off because I continually surprise myself with what I have created. I also add pieces from winning Scratchers tickets into each artwork as well, so close examination is necessary to fully appreciate my work.
Which artists or art movements have influenced you?
Serge Gay Jr., an exceptionally talented artist and my friend, was the first person I met when I moved to San Francisco. Serge had just finished university and was trying to make it as an artist. I saw the tremendous amount of hard work and perseverance he had to put forth to get to where he is today: a Grammy Award nomination for his artwork used in a Cello music video.
I also draw inspiration from my love of figure skating, an art form in its own right. Other influences include the punk rock scene of the '80s and '90s and the rave scene of the late '90s and early 2000s. Subcultures are often very visual and unique, and they provide endless ideas for projects.
I also draw inspiration from my fellow artists in the competitions I enter. They are all so talented, and they motivate me to continue pushing my creative abilities.
How would you describe your artistic style? What inspires you?
My artistic style is crafty and involves a lot of cuts—hence the tag name “Krafty Kutz”. I have developed my own technique for creating what are best described as Mixed Media Collages/mosaics, which I intentionally created to be large in size—usually around 40 in x 60 in, but lately they have become much larger.
I try to create works that immediately grab my audience's attention, draw them in for a closer look, and then become yet more surprised when they learn of the materials which have been used and the intricate nature of the thousands of individual pieces included. I try to incorporate numerous types of paper craft techniques, like paper weaving, paper beads, paper mache, etc., and have recently incorporated Lenticular image art into my work.
My work can be appreciated from afar, but close examination is necessary to get the full experience.
What is your favorite art accident? Did it change your perspective?
My favorite art accident was when dropping off my art at the county fair, and the frame fell apart when I took my entry out of the car. As the entry deadline was almost done, I had permission to drop off my entry the following morning. When I arrived, the gate was closed. I had to jump over it and run to the exhibit building, which was only one minute away from the judging start time. I laughed at how ridiculous the situation was and learned that I need to finish my artwork well in advance to avoid such mishaps.
What is the most important thing about art to you?
The most important thing about Art to me is the amazing people that I meet along the way! I have met so many amazing people along the way, and art is the one thing in my life that has provided me with joy and happiness and has carried me through some very difficult times. Creating art and participating in competitions have really carried me through some of the most difficult times in my life. These activities have enabled me to express myself in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
What are your plans? What are you working on now?
That is a good question. I finally have enough artworks that I was able to recently work with Upward Gallery in creating a Special Edition of my works. The finished booklet is amazing, and I'm definitely planning on using this to help promote myself and my art. I would like to simply continue to push my own creative abilities with each new piece I created, and am eager to see if there is a path forward to a somewhat more professional opportunity should my work be at such a level.
I currently have been working on making jewelry from used Pinball Machine playfield pieces as a fun little side project. I am also brainstorming ideas for my next series of lottery ticket art, which so far appears to be very exciting and will not disappoint.
