Current Hometown: Mohall

Where can we see your work?

Many of my drawings are displayed at The Tack Room bar in Sherwood.

Do you have work for sale?

For now, this is only a hobby for me, but some pictures are for sale at a marked price. A few of the pieces I have drawn special on commission in the past and others are just for viewers to enjoy.

In what media do you work?

Most of my work is created with black and white charcoal. Sometimes I like to experiment with watercolor and acrylic painting just to test my artistic abilities. In the past I have been known to use acrylics to create silhouette landscapes on rocks and old logging saws. But today I focus on my charcoals mostly. They have become my passion.

How would you describe your style?

Everything I have created is drawn freehand. So far all of my charcoal drawings have been in shades of black and white. Even the color of paper I choose is either black or white. It is all a part of my style. The images themselves take on a realistic quality to the best of my abilities. Many of my rodeo/horse related drawings are of local people from around my community and I try my best to capture their true spirit.

Who would you say have been influences on your work?

There are many who have impacted my work either in a major way or maybe just a little bit, but each one of those amazing people made my knowledge and confidence a little bit stronger. My family and friends have always been my biggest supporters.

Are there particular themes you like to explore in your work?

My theme is usually agricultural-based. I draw mostly cowboys and their horses. Many of my references are from local ranch rodeos. I have branched out to drawing some wildlife pictures. And my newest theme is something I started drawing just for fun. It is a “deck of cards” with the pinup cowboy theme. When I work with paints, I like painting horizons with black silhouettes sticking with the same agricultural theme.

What do you most enjoy about the creative process?

What I enjoy most about the creative process, is the escape I feel when I’m drawing. When the mood strikes just right and I’m kind of “in the zone,” all the stresses of my everyday life feel like they are escaping through my hands and being trapped inside the picture. You can’t see it in the drawing, but when I look at the picture after it’s completed, I don’t just see a picture. I see how it made me feel.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My everyday job is raising cattle with my brother and in my free time I like to draw. I did achieve a minor in art from Minot State University in 2008. Aside from that, I’m a self-taught artist. I started really focusing on charcoal drawing a few years ago. Before that, I did more acrylic painting. After my friends saw my drawings, they started encouraging me to display them. They keep telling me I have a gift I need to share with others so here goes nothing. I hope [readers] enjoy them.