Gravity Well is the result of a major life changing event which, when looked back on, seems to have been the crossroads of a life well lived (thus far, much more to go before I sleep!) replete with adventure and chaos. Seeing Gravity Well become a reality affirms my notion that life, with all it's inherent ups and downs, flows one to their dreams if they dare to ride the currents all the way through. I realize the play on words may seem cliché and corny but life sometimes is cliché and wonderfully corny.
The artwork produced by Gravity Well is inspired by the collective experiences I've had over the past 43 years on planet Earth. It is also inspired by finally being able to move forward after a five year battle with an electrocution injury (more on that further down).
"knowledge is knowing what to say, wisdom is knowing when to say it"
Basic Bio: I'm
currently 43 years old, married to a truly wonderful woman (for 25 years to
date!) with a teenage daughter whose ready to leave the nest (!).
A Brief Life History: Born in Wiesbaden Germany, I grew up overseas not reaching the USA till my early teen years. During that time I had the opportunity to begin martial arts training which I still practice to this day. In my teen years I raced moto-cross, hiked long distances and started my life long love affair with the backcountry. After high school I went right into college and right back out again as I didn't quite have a clue what I wanted to do with my life.
After an aimless summer I found myself in the Navy where I served as a navigator, rescue swimmer and sharp shooter. The military experience was priceless and has given me many memories and countless reserves of personal strength. With a brand new wife after the military, I wound up in Richmond Virginia to become a father a year later. Here I began my second phase of public service by joining a local volunteer rescue squad. My time and training there set the foundation for a career in public safety, beginning with the police department as a communications specialist. After four years of straight midnight shifts, I landed my (then) dream job with the fire department.
In the fire department I was a Medic/Firefighter/Rescue diver and eventually began to teach in the fire academy. It was early January 2001 when my life changed forever. In the hours after midnight my engine company was part of a response to a warehouse fire. While entering a hole in the ceiling, I was electrocuted (while wearing water soaked gear) and fell into a puddle of water where I was "zapped" once again. Less than two weeks later I would discover that I had permanent nerve damage, which plunged me into a world of severe pain, helplessness and fear (a new emotion for me at that time). I literally saw myself shrinking physically, and went from a person who couldn't stay in one place, to someone who was trapped inside a body, tucked away indoors and isolated.
In the beginning, I began taking classes at Virginia Commonwealth University aiming for a degree in Anthropology. While pushing (much against my doctors orders) through a demanding academic regime, I found myself working as a Teaching Assistant for advanced archaeology courses. During this time, my health took a serious dive which would put me in and out of the hospital on a regular basis. Finding myself once again trapped inside, I turned to my artwork. To use the phrase "opened the flood gates" is a true understatement. The emotions, images, and experiences literally began to spring into reality in the form of my prints.
The battle with my body is over and even though I'll always feel pain, it no longer controls me and the prognosis for the future is a bright one. So now we come full circle, and it's time to share my perceptions with whomever wishes to view.
Graphic Experience: I am primarily self taught (something to which I found is common and honestly refreshing) and am proficient with several 2D and 3D programs (see Software) including Poser5 and Bryce5.5. I've also been formally taught in several conventional mediums such as oils, pastel, charcoal and pen & ink. To date I have designed three web sites (not including this one), one CD cover for a local recording artist, and a cover for an Athem Blue Cross Blue Shield interdepartmental calendar. Recently, one of my images (Scenic Overlook: Omega Prime) was featured on the cover of SciFi.coms' online magazine "SciFi Weekly.
