Q: Born in Germany, what are some of your favorite things about living and working near the Rockies?

A: My family was an Air Force family—and I was the youngest of four children. All of my formative years, after leaving Germany, were spent ship-wrecked in a small desert town in Nevada. In contrast to my siblings who experienced traveling the world, I grew up a castaway in a dry and dusty outpost, 60 miles from anywhere, struggling to find inspiration and a future. I knew the art that I couldn’t stop making would be my escape.

At 21 I left Nevada for Colorado. Here I married my wife, we began our family and I further my art career. No art school or college, no formal training—just a deep connection to my art and a drive to keep it at the forefront of my life. My hometown of Loveland is less than an hour drive to Denver or Boulder or the Rocky Mountain National Forest.

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between art you create on paper versus in the computer?

A: I keep several sketchbooks at a time—different sizes for different content or mood. It took me a while to become comfortable working in sketchbooks—finding the freedom to fill them with anything and everything took a lot of intention. My works on paper vs my digital work fluctuates over time. I go through phases of creating large numbers of personal works, which are usually non-digital and then I find it necessary to get on with creating pieces for work and promotion, which are nearly always digital. Of course it is always a mix, as much of my work is rendered by hand initially and then scanned and worked digitally.

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: Until about a month ago I would have immediately have said my computer, but now I have to admit that it is my day-planner. For years I found myself constantly busy, but I have recently Iearned the difference between being productive and being busy. My day-planner has suddenly become both my compass and my north star—the place where I can chart out and account for the things that are moving me closer to my business and life goals. Art can be very solitary and now my day-planner has become a navigation tool and captain’s log.

Q: How do you know when the art is finished?

A: Since it is my job to tell stories for my clients through my art, I am forever reading and re-reading the content in a piece. I keep asking myself if the piece is saying all that it needs to say. Is the whole story there. Not just the basic plot line but the nuances that give it life and color as well. And since few pieces are ever 100% perfect, and deadlines are important to meet, I keep asking myself if the piece I am working on is at a minimum of 85% ‘perfect’. If I ever feel like it’s at 90 or 95%—then it is definitely done.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

A: From early on I was drawn to books on ancient cultures, archeology, ancient art and architecture, temples and tombs, megaliths. I also found myself drawn to modern-day mysteries: ghosts, cryptids, UFOs, space—all things far away or difficult to explain. If there was something in the human experience that exceeded current understanding, I was hooked, and I still am.

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: Since I make a living creating art, my first inclination is to say that digital would be the medium I would have to choose—out of familiarity, practicality and versatility. But if I were free from income-producing constraints I would immediately choose to work in nothing but acrylics. What a beautiful year of exploration, innovation, discovery and surprise that would be.

Q: If you could spend an entire day away from work and deadlines, what would you do and where?

A: I would spend my day with the local artists here in their studios downtown. I would just sit and watch each of them in their process. I would love to ask questions and learn—get to know each of them individually. Share thoughts and ideas and inspirations. I feel there is a part of me that needs to just ‘see’ work being created and not have to be the one making it all the time. That would be wonderful day.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Not sure I like the direction this interview has suddenly taken—but I will play along. My last supper: A sizeable tossed salad with spring greens, zesty Italian dressing on the side. A flame broiled steak, medium-well. Steamed vegetables. Garlic mashed potatoes. Two beers (New Belgium’s Rampant or Odell’s IPA - I always support local business!). Two cups of coffee (Starbucks Pike Place) + sugar & French vanilla cream. A warmed slice of wild berry pie with vanilla ice cream on the side.  Yep—that’d just about soothe the inevitable.