![](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/e5aac0120d5cb9827ad9dbb6df2295d51274989f/original/img-5262-beard.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sicmVzaXplIiw3NTBdLFsibWF4Il0sWyJ3ZSJdXQ%3D%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Art
...before there was music
Oh boy, did I love my comic books, cartoons, Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, and all things fantasy when I was a kid!
I was pretty sick growing up and expressing myself was made complicated through the fog of medications and fuzzy wiring. Escapism through art, crafts, and toys was my first real means of communication. I was fortunate to have a really supportive and crafty family, so I found myself always drawing, painting, or building things as a way of getting out all the noise that was inside me.
Although I took art and photography classes up through my high school years, the interest waned as I fell head over heals in love with the allure of the drug that was Music. I still dabbled with art here and there, though I never pursued it beyond music related posters and album artwork and other for-fun endeavors
By chance, I fell into my first professional Art related situation at the beginning of 2012, hired to make some fake book jackets for The Alliance Theatre's production of God Of Carnage. One thing led to another and I struck up a great relationship with the Theatre's Props Department that has enabled me to do both Music & Art simultaneously (something I had never even considered before). Being very lateral in terms of creativity, it allowed me to focus on different aspects of each while never burning out completely on the other. A perfect match. As a bonus, it opened up other facets of creativity that I've allowed to grow and foster in both my art and music worlds.
Here's just a small portion of things Art related to peruse... just keep scrolling... and scrolling... and scrolling...
theatre
![Signage for Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. A musical by Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T-Bone Burnett](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/acae7a0852ddb9ebabd6b49d141c0035c1eb884d/original/img-1544.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Signage for Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. A musical by Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T-Bone Burnett
![More signage for Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. Signage for Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. A musical by Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T-Bone Burnett](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/c2e215959cef4a94e6b507d0c60695bd48cda3ca/original/img-1559.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
More signage for Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. Signage for Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County. A musical by Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T-Bone Burnett
![One of my favorites! Radio console and desk for Troubadour! I also did the hanging wall art and pics.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/1d47bd478cb4c3324e66bf626f40235de5b6e01f/original/img-4102.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
One of my favorites! Radio console and desk for Troubadour! I also did the hanging wall art and pics.
![Another favorite.. Unicorn handle wands for the Ice Queen in Lion, WItch and the Wardrobe.. My design.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/d65aa57af95f59088586f477c7f8c51f6d110965/original/img-3400.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Another favorite.. Unicorn handle wands for the Ice Queen in Lion, WItch and the Wardrobe.. My design.
![I made all the crap on the wall.. The Prom, I think.. I believe this stuff may curently be on Broadway??](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/8d124a1c7c384940382f80afa6b1e7bf6f756006/original/img-3910.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I made all the crap on the wall.. The Prom, I think.. I believe this stuff may curently be on Broadway??
![I made most the crap on the wall.. The Prom, I think.. I believe this stuff may curently be on Broadway??](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/e30310186280796cf483ceaf7aa43dbb8c8b9f1a/original/img-3912.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I made most the crap on the wall.. The Prom, I think.. I believe this stuff may curently be on Broadway??
![I made a bunch of the crap on the wall.. The Prom, I think.. I believe this stuff may curently be on Broadway??](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/2ab0ec9f413ea1c93ab53dda774b53c635bd1598/original/img-3913.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I made a bunch of the crap on the wall.. The Prom, I think.. I believe this stuff may curently be on Broadway??
![I even did some 2D puppetry with the fine fellows of the Center For Puppetry Arts for the Alliance's version of James and The Giant Peach.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/dcb85b6cc80dea9923e6fb7d53ab7b34c938656a/original/img-2932.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I even did some 2D puppetry with the fine fellows of the Center For Puppetry Arts for the Alliance's version of James and The Giant Peach.
![Bull Durham. Fuck that show. My stuff looked good though. I think that may be my faithful recreation of the board from the movie.. or the one some hack redid.. whatever.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/b881bd75f2a8674185f2e0868ad3f5f7cc083d1b/original/img-2651.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Bull Durham. Fuck that show. My stuff looked good though. I think that may be my faithful recreation of the board from the movie.. or the one some hack redid.. whatever.
![I've lost count of how many pianos I've dissassembled, taken the cast iron soundboard out of (to make it lighter) and given them a 2nd life on stage. 8 or 9 easy.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/c778b20b81805f90c8f85f141cebbe36f548e667/original/img-1872.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I've lost count of how many pianos I've dissassembled, taken the cast iron soundboard out of (to make it lighter) and given them a 2nd life on stage. 8 or 9 easy.
![I really like Star Wars. I put it in almost everything that needs text. Like Newpapers and other stuff.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/3cd6d384db3315050906eb34a64e2c626109e8c3/original/img-6069.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I really like Star Wars. I put it in almost everything that needs text. Like Newpapers and other stuff.
![I had to modify Green Eggs and Ham for The Magic Negro and Other Blackity Blackness.. Holy crap, what a mindfuck.. instead of convincing me to want green eggs n ham it wanted me to say ni.... uh nevermind.. but fuck me, yes, I had to say it. It was a Mind. Fuck.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/b0bbb28425ff5e2a65c5f7e067b6b693b0dd2371/original/img-4205.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I had to modify Green Eggs and Ham for The Magic Negro and Other Blackity Blackness.. Holy crap, what a mindfuck.. instead of convincing me to want green eggs n ham it wanted me to say ni.... uh nevermind.. but fuck me, yes, I had to say it. It was a Mind. Fuck.
While my specialty is making 'Paper Props" (newspapers, magazines, Visa's, money, labels, posters, pictures etc), I make a bunch of other shit too. I hear I have some stuff on Broadway (but as someone that suffers from 'Imposter Syndrome', I can't wrap my head around its achievement).
Creatively, aside from Photoshoping the imaginary into existence, I actually print and handmake stuff like fake money, visa's, labels, food cartons, pictures, vinyl albums, books, and newspapers. I dabble in electrical wiring, puppetry, painting, sculpting, carpentry, and just general manufacturing stuff. oh, and I hate hand sewing.
All of these are from productions at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta GA., 2012-2019.
guitar mods & refinishing
Oh yeah... I've discovered the calming joys of refinishing guitars. I'm not a gear person by any stretch of the imagination, I cant remember the names of this or that, don't care about the latest and newest innovations, but I do like deconstructing and modifying instruments.
It's peaceful and relaxing. Each new technique or skill learned has a relevant place somewhere else in life. Plus its fun (although a bit selfish) to surprise others with custom modded instruments.
the beard.
![After the glue and hairspray dried, I made an initial trim of the sideburn to show Lori the technique idea I had and then she took over.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/8277317822e91d6df04e18a29fe528e698ce4458/original/img-4870.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
After the glue and hairspray dried, I made an initial trim of the sideburn to show Lori the technique idea I had and then she took over.
![I had to do the mustache part myself. It was really pretty layered and solid with glue and fragile. The blade, by this point, was hot as fuck and we had to let it cool down. It was easier for me to do this because of the angles involved.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/373417/63b145cdcbd3f0e3746535f3fd39bd1be9839fce/original/img-4873.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I had to do the mustache part myself. It was really pretty layered and solid with glue and fragile. The blade, by this point, was hot as fuck and we had to let it cool down. It was easier for me to do this because of the angles involved.
Well, you made it this far down..
So, every 7-ish years I grow my hair and beard out for around 12 months. Mostly because I can (and why not), but its also interesting to take stock of how much new grey there is, how much is left and it's a chance to harvest a ceremonial dread.
This past adventure went a little long, not quite 4 years, as I had the initial idea to glue my beard, eyebrows, and hair, then cast a mold of my shoulders and head so I could reattach it all. Because of limited storage space, I decided to settle for just the beard. Eventually I'll make a shadowbox for it. Many thanks to my partners in crime, Lori and Christian, for going on this journey with me!