It all has to start somewhere, and for me, it began in a little town called Basile. You know, one of those towns with a single blinking yellow light. One of my earliest memories of falling in love with art was when my sister received these “art tests” in the mail. I couldn’t resist—I poured all my effort into one of the tests, drawing with everything I had, and convinced her to send it in. A couple of weeks later, we got the graded artwork back. I’ll never forget seeing the word “amazing” written in bright red next to the cartoon dog head I had drawn. The joy and validation from those comments, left by (at least in my young mind) a professional artist, sparked something incredible in me. From that moment, I drew everything I could—starting with Pokémon characters, then practicing drawing eyes, and eventually getting the chance to take an art class in middle school.

High school was one of the most memorable times in my life. The support from my family played a huge role—they encouraged me every step of the way and believed in my dreams of pursuing a creative career. My art teacher, Mrs. Benoit, was also a major inspiration. She not only helped me see the potential in a career in art, but also pushed me to my limits, sharpening my skills and showing me what I was capable of. Beyond that, spending time with friends during those years remains some of my favorite memories. Those days were filled with laughter, growth, and experiences that shaped who I am today.

After high school, I began my college journey at LSUE. I spent the first half of my studies there, wrapping up as many general education courses as I could while pursuing a graphic design degree. Once that chapter was complete, I left home for the first time and headed to the “big city”—Baton Rouge. Of course, to small-town me, it felt huge. Moving there was a new adventure, and I quickly made great friends as I started the second half of my college career. LSU was a whole new beast, making LSUE feel like preschool in comparison. From 12-page papers to selective admissions and a campus so sprawling I doubted my poor feet would survive, it was a challenge in every way. Spoiler alert: my feet and I both survived. I walked away with a fancy little piece of paper, a wealth of creative skills for the future—and, as a bonus, I met an incredible girl along the way.

These days, I’m settled in Baton Rouge, enjoying life with my amazing fiancée, Abbey, and our endlessly entertaining cat, Phil. I’m lucky to spend my days at TILT, where I dive deep into photography and social media—creating impactful content and helping brands tell their stories. While my focus has shifted from traditional art to the digital world, those early inspirations still fuel my creativity. Between work and personal projects, I’m constantly exploring new ways to bring ideas to life—and loving every step of the journey.