I was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, as was my mother before me. My family has called this state home since the early 1900s, mostly rooted between Fallon, Reno, and Gerlach. I grew up with a single mother who worked hard to keep us going—I spent countless hours doing homework or eating dinner under her desk or roaming around the open spaces and equipment yards at her various jobs. Even when we had little, she was always quick to help others who had less. That determined spirit, and her drive to champion the underdog, shaped who I am today.

I carried that into my first career as a wildland firefighter, spending most of my time in Idaho, working on engines, helicopter rappel crews, and eventually the highlight of my career with the Boise Hotshots. After an injury in the Golden Trout Wilderness, I pivoted to fisheries, earning a bachelor’s and then pursuing a master’s degree studying Lahontan cutthroat trout—an underdog species I wanted to help. I spent 17 years working in conservation, most notably with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and nearly 11 years at Trout Unlimited. When my funding ended in 2025, I decided to finally chase another dream: a full-time art career.

Today, I live with my biggest fans and ultimate supporters, my wife Tori, her mom, and my stepdaughter Dylan on our small farm, where we raise goats, llamas, and chickens, and grow much of our own food. My love for Nevada’s wildlife and wild places hasn’t faded; through my art, I aim to spotlight the incredible native animals and landscapes of the West—especially Nevada—and remind people that what we have in our own backyard and beyond is worth protecting.