Born in Ohio and raised across Florida, California, and Kentucky, I joined the Navy right out of high school and spent ten years sailing the Pacific. In 1985, I finally dry-docked myself in Colorado to attend art school, trading ships for sketchbooks and sea spray for sculpture.

Since then, I’ve crossed the U.S. six times, living everywhere from the beaches of Hawaii to the wilds of Oregon, the mile-high plains of Denver, and eventually settling in Orlando in 1987.

I retired after a 32-year career as a show production artist with Disney, where I worked in everything from paint and foam to clay, fiberglass, mold making, and model building—with a healthy dose of Mickey Mouse magic thrown in. Alongside that, I freelanced in illustration, cartooning, and book cover art.

Sand, however, has been the most unexpected—and most challenging—medium of them all. It started as a beachside distraction when the surf was flat, and slowly evolved into something much more. I built my first sculptures on the sand between wave sets and quickly fell in love with the impermanence and artistry of it.

Ft. Myers was the first sand event I ever attended—and also the first competition I entered as an amateur in 2000. I've been fortunate to be part of the Siesta Key Crystal Classic since its inception, and I’m always grateful for the chance to be invited back.