If anyone had ever told me when I was younger that I would end up pursuing a career in special effects makeup and fabrication, I would have probably laughed at them. Now, I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else.

 

I found my passion for special effects in my final semester at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I spent almost the entirety of my five years in the illustration program positioning myself for my dream job: to be a conceptual designer for animated film. My whole portfolio revolved around it. But something was missing.

 

And then, after a lot of nudging, a mentor convinced me to fabricate a latex pullover mask for my final project of my portfolio class. I immediately purchased several books and began teaching myself how to make my sketches come to life. I decided early on that even if I didn't wind up ever making another latex mask again, I wanted to approach this project wholeheartedly. I life cast my model, taught myself how to sculpt and create an ultracal mold, bought an airbrush gun and used compressor; I even cast tinted, semi-transparent teeth in resin. I've always believed if you're going to do something, do it big or don't do it at all. And I fell completely and totally in love with the process.

 

From the moment I graduated, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in special effects. I'm not sure how I didn't see it before; all of a sudden, my vast knowledge of and love for classic makeup and special effects made sense. My obsession with John Carpenter's "The Thing" made sense. While everything I know about sculpture, mask making, and makeup application has been self taught, I feel fortunate to have a background in multiple forms of artistic expression, as it gives me a very rounded approach to visual problem solving.

 

With a background in illustration, character and concept design, and photography, I am able to approach new projects through a multitude of different lenses. My go-hard-or-go-home attitude keeps me reaching for great new heights, refusing to settle for what's easy or convenient, never cutting corners. And my passion for my craft keeps me thirsty for newer and bigger challenges and keeps my hands constantly in motion.

 

I wouldn't have it any other way.