Since I was in my 20’s I spent each year, between birthdays, teaching myself a new art form, manga, watercolor, acrylic painting, oil painting, etc. I bought the books, watched videos and by the years end, I felt pretty good with what I had learned and applied to my style and then something happened. I lost my artist voice. Life stresses and my job had taken over. I didn’t have the energy or time to commit to it. I thought I had lost it.

In 2019 a very special someone in my life sparked that part of me that I had been missing and supported me like no one ever had. She became a more than a bug in my ear and I watched myself as the “imposter syndrome” started to disappear. She encouraged me to start selling my art. I bounced some ideas off her and we came up with FYD Studios, which stands for Follow Your Dreams. I have been in EMS since Fall of 1996 and have more than a decade of Fire Fighting under my belt as well. It has always been a passion of mine to help others.

At the beginning and height of Covid I was working in the ER in St. Louis at a level 2 hospital and emotionally and physically it took its toll. I started making funny stickers that were ER niche and selling them to coworkers. Then a co-worker told me about her husband who was opening a restaurant and needed some artwork on his walls. That ignited my passion for murals and artwork. Not only because it had always been a dream of mine for people, other than my family, to see my art, but I never realized how much it helped me emotionally with the stress of my job.

I have since started concentrating more about the business side of murals and although I work a fulltime job with Berkeley Fire Department as a Paramedic, it is a schedule that allows me the freedom to pursue my dreams as an artist and creator.

I will eventually start posting more of my artwork and even selling prints, but for now I am just as interested, if not more interested, in making your vision come to life at your work, business or home. People have always said, “Your limit is your imagination,” but I am finding my talents are reaching the same level.

My goal is to make our cities, our buildings, and our communities more beautiful and to allow people the opportunity to walk away with a smile, sense of culture, inspiration or hope.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to the opportunity to meet you and hopefully create something for you.