My story begins in Mexico City, where I was born.  At 8 years old my family moved to San Diego and I was put into school where I quickly had to adapt to a new language and culture.  I was very shy, but I quickly learned to express myself through drawing, and was soon recognized as the class artist.  I enjoyed drawing cartoons and animals and was always asked by my friends to decorate their book covers and trapper keepers (yes, I’m that old!).

I didn’t understand it at the time,  but this taught me to view and experience the world as an artist.  When I observe something, I find that drawing it helps me understand it.  I’m often drawing things in my mind, which is a way for me to record my experience.  This is how I began drawing just about everything.  I became fascinated by drawing animals, people and places, which also made me very interested in traveling, so that I could experience a variety of different environments and subjects.  

My greatest advancements in art came from attending Watts Atelier, one of the premier art schools in the country. This is where I learned to fine tune my skills in the fundamental techniques of the old masters.  This intensive training in drawing and painting completely transformed my abilities and refined my skills.