Roots of Fortitude Drawing

Originally born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, a lot of my youth was comprised of surrounding myself with the beauty of nature in all its organic forms. I was therefore influenced almost immediately by it, along with comics and illustrative art. This in turn helped me create a hybrid of all my favorite styles in one. My appreciation for art took on a reflective interpretation of all those things soon after. If there is one word that could sum up my sentiment towards art in its multitude of forms, it would be the Spanish word duende which means “the mysterious power of art to deeply move a person.” With that said, one of the many great things about the arts is there are many forms, methods and interpretations of beauty and emotions. They surround, move us and add a little spice and meaning to our life experiences. Whether you are inspired or moved by someone else’s work or by a feeling you have towards certain people, places, or things, art is passion and passion is art. I try to accentuate those same feelings in my work through literal and metaphorical forms of depth and symbolism, and by sharing my inspirations with others. Beauty, as we all know, is in the eye of the beholder, but this is also the case with interpretation and appreciation. Choosing what brings us passion frees us from the shackles of stagnancy and restraint. My passion for art has helped me find my life's path after a long journey, and I hope that by sharing my passion, I pay this gift forward. My main objective is for my work to manifest itself in an uplifting way; conveying passion, purity, and truth to those seeking inspiration. The potential of adding a little color whether metaphorically or literally is an essential desire. One that I would consider as a job well done and a cup that’s never full, because art without a muse is incomplete.