RIP shirts are the hardest for me to do…not because I can’t do it but because the person has passed and I’m painting them.  Tugs at the hearts string you know!  I don’t do as many RIP shirts these days but when someone does ask me to do one I feel very honored and will do the job to the best of my ability.  What I mean by that is I can only do the quality of work that is on the picture.  If you come to me with this fuzzy camera phone picture…do you really think I can do a good job with that?  No people I can’t!  I need a CLEAR picture (printed please) either a 4X6 or 5X7.  If you give me a fuzzy picture your portrait will be fuzzy.  Sorry folks!  Clear picture is want I need to give you my best.

I would like to take this time and commemorate my 20 years to the month that I’ve been airbrushing.  One thing I can say it has been a true journey and process.  Giving me a hands on crash course in being a businessman but also having a lot of fun and being in awe of people I’ve never met respecting my creativity and talent.  The countless doors of opportunities I’ve been able to open along the way made a way out for me.  But its always been what I’ve told myself from when I started, “Never been about what I earn, but what I’ve learned.” In part of what I’ve learned is how to see the power in my talent.  The power to take a person’s idea and make it a vision artistically.  Which made me aware that any and everyone respects me for that.   

I was 18 years old fresh out of high school but always resourceful and ready to make something outta nothing.  And feeling like coming from my nothings of losing my father but able to gain a talent which became a tool for learning, but a means to make a living.  At that time in 1991 it was all making sense after I bought my first airbrush and bartering some work for a kid in my art class for a low end  compressor.  Being young and living with my family, I had a passion for art since I was younger, and it had kept my head on straight in an environment that was chaotic.  I was at risk, and understanding my background this is what kept me up at night and keeping an art book at all times.  I was learning how to work and hustle to find my dreams of being an airbrush artist!  At that point I was in my last year of high school and I was accepted at Fresno State University.  The Summer of 1991 changed me and my life forever in a very positive way. 

I was getting ready for my first year at college and still learning how to refine my talents.  My mother met a gentleman who had a shop in the local mall by the name of Ron Artis.  He was a professional artist and airbrush artist whom she introduced me to and upon meeting him I was a work in progress.  He decided that he wanted to take me under his wing and school me on how to better myself but emphasized bettering myself also as an individual.  Also how to recognize the power in what I do.  He let me hang out at his shop and observe, how to interact with customers and more so the business side of things.  The art side he wanted me to do on my own, but whatever he did sharpened me on the business side of airbrushing.

I made t-shirts for the family and we are going to rock them all over town.  I’m also going to have my new business cards/postcards made from this logo.

Let me know what you think.