As the youngest of sixteen children, I grew up working alongside my siblings in my father’s foundry throughout high school and into my early twenties. Our family was deeply skilled in the lost-wax casting process, including traditional monumental scaling, sculpting, and casting. By the time I graduated high school, I had already helped sculpt and cast several monuments, along with numerous works for well-known sculptors. In my early twenties, I transitioned into high-end construction, specializing in framing custom roofs by hand and fine trim carpentry. My construction company was consistently fully booked, thanks to my commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and a calm, honest approach to business.

During my late twenties, I devoted seven years to studying anatomy in great depth. In my early thirties, I turned my focus to design. I was deliberate about not sharing my work until I was confident that my skills were sharp and my method of expression had become mine alone. From the beginning, I carried a personal caveat; an artistic mind is only free when his hands are capable of executing the dreams they are asked to imitate.