How would you describe your work?

Innovative, bold, and creative is how I would describe my work. There is a saying that, “nothing is new under the sun” and I hold to that quote in my work, which means I don’t try to reinvent the wheel. What I do is use the tools at hand in a creative way and take risks with new methods or forms to create artwork from ordinary life and offer the viewer a different perspective of the subject to make the artwork extraordinary to them.

How have you changed as an artist over the years?

The biggest change I have experienced over the years has been becoming an artist. I spent my life perfecting the technical side of photography. I discovered that the art of photography is having something to say. The more I explored the narrative of a picture the more I wanted to try different methods to give a voice to the moment of the picture. Once I accepted the art of being a photographer/visual artist/creative I could accept the changes in my photographic style and vision which continue to evolve.

What artists have influenced your work?

So many artists have influenced my work. Artist Diego Velazquez’s intimate portrait touch and Caravaggio’s bold contrast in highlights and shadows. Photographers Bruce Davidson, Eugene Smith, Steve Curry, Eli Reed, and many others such as Anthony Barboza, Roy DeCarava, and Louis Draper.

Do you have a favorite medium?

My favorite medium to work with is photography. I love its flexibility in post-processing.

What does making art mean in your life?

Art is my voice to communicate to the world that I am here and that because I am here I have something to add to the other voices of humanity.

Anything else you think is important?

An unknown quote I like is “If art does not inspire you to change, move, live then it is not art.”