I attended formal training at Memphis College Of Art and University Of Memphis; majoring in graphic design and illustration. The years spent there exposed me to a full spectrum of the art world. I was given the opportunity to study a wide variety of techniques pertaining to both fine and commercial art. During this time I began drawing caricatures and explored the use of colored pencils. The next stage of my "development as an artist" came with years working in the Photo Lab business. I used my pencil skills and fine-tuned my attention to detail by doing photo-enhancement techniques like print correction, negative retouching and photo restoration. During this time I had the opportunity to work with many brilliant portrait photographers who opened my eyes to new ways of lighting, the use of shadows, and composition. I try to incorporate these skills into my portraits.

Along the way, the one thing that has remained constant was my love of the pencil. My technique has changed throughout the years to evolve into what I consider my "signature look". I achieve this by using a combination of pencils, brushes, and erasers as drawing tools. It is my sincere desire to create portraits that clients, and their family and friends, will admire throughout a lifetime. -jc