I’ve always been amazed by the way animated films make me feel. “How do they do it?” I used to wonder, practicing drawing characters of my own and watching hours of DVD bonus features. And the more I study and grow, the more I seem to circle back to something I’ve heard Glen Keane say: “I  live in the skin of the characters I create.” In other words, he steps into a story and into a character’s very heart. Even when it feels vulnerable or foolish to do so, he lets his drawings express what he knows the character is thinking and feeling. Artwork like that, you can see coming to life. That is the level of sincerity I strive for in my work. My dream is to create meaningful moments and appealing designs that come from and evoke real feelings; to use art to play make-believe; to give people an experience that they can relate to on an emotional level, all while maintaining a focus on strong draftsmanship and child-like imagination. I want to be a part of the stories that connect with people the way so many animated films and shows have connected with me.

 

And on a personal note, I aim to glorify God in all my work, and my faith in Christ is what inspires me to make art from a place of thankfulness and love.