Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I love drawing and painting portraits of the human face. My goal being to capture or enhance an emotional moment. I don't just try to be a copy machine. I try to bring out the character of my subjects, whether that's thru pushing the features or adding my own color and lighting schemes. I like to paint using lots of textural elements, which gives my work a certain energy. I want my work to feel alive and connect to the viewer by especially nailing the eyes, like the art is looking right at you.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find a lot of inspiration in stories. I read a lot of books and love picturing the scenes and characters in my mind. I love movies and comics, too. There can be inspiration in unlikely places too. I will often take a pic of an interesting stain on a sidewalk, or an abandoned building or a beat up old car or a sunset. There can be just as much beauty in decay as there is in nature. You know, the whole "circle of life" kind of thing. Also inspired by other artist and peers, of course.

What would you do with $25,000?

Well, I have had a few stories and ideas of my own floating around my head for years. Some have notes jotted in sketchbooks with basic outlines and character concepts, but winning the cash prize would allow me to take some serious time to sit down and really develop these stories, most of which I would create the art and make my own graphic novels. I would love to be able to help those less fortunate too.