Caricature by Nolan Harris of Over The Line Productions
BIO: I was born and raised in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA. A region known for its quality Italian food, the strong work ethic of its third and fourth generation European immigrant population and TV’s The Office. I left home at eighteen, my adventures carried me from Boston to Philadelphia to Portland and finally to Seattle, where I intend to put down roots and possibly purchase an expensive oriental rug.
RESUME: I left Montserrat College of Art (Beverly, MA) after my foundation year and taught myself graphic design. I fell into a gig assisting a sign maker and started an eight year career as a designer, fabricator and sales specialist in the sign industry. I toyed with freelance identity design work, painted murals on private commission, attended Massachusetts College of Art for a mercifully brief three weeks.
This single-paneled comic is from a story I am working on about the history of professional wrestling (as told by cartoon animals).
In 2005, I became president of Boston’s chapter of the Graphic Artists Guild. I planned and hosted events and workshops focused on building business skills for the professional artist community. By 26, I had lectured on graphic design at both of the colleges I dropped out of and was invited to be a faculty advisor to the Communications Department at Lasell College. By 2008, I was burned out on graphic design and became a bartender. For the first time in 4 years, I feel the itch to set type again…
ARTIST STATEMENT:I am obsessive about studying anatomy, recording gesture and reading into complex emotional states. When I understand a character, it’s about creating, not imitating. True art cannot be created unless you are wearing linen pants.
I drew and photocopied Heavy Metal Warriors, issue #1 when I was ten years old.
INFLUENCES: Alberto Giacommetti, Egon Schiele, Kaethe Kollwitz, Frank Miller, Ernest Hemingway, Eddie Campbell, Charles Darwin, Jim Henson, Bruce Lee, Ayn Rand, George Carlin, Black Flag and Stiff Little Fingers
COMICS: I started making comics when I was in grade school. After college, I published two issues of the punk/comics magazine We Must Become Our Heroes and became somewhat active within the local comics community. I hosted a number of comic book related events during my tenure as president of the Graphic Artists Guild. Years later, I was invited to moderate a round-table discussion between five comics industry professionals including Liz Prince and Joe Quinones:
HOBBIES: I began studying the martial arts when I was 13. I teach Karate & Kickboxing Fusion at my school Fighting Chance Seattle in Ballard. I also enjoy cooking, swing dancing and watching movies. The ocean is my favorite place.
