Here’s a timeline of my artistic journey:
1970's
Growing up I loved building model cars, airplanes, boats and erector sets. I collected army men and football figures I would paint uniforms on. I was adventurous and outgoing...a boys’ boy.
I was a boy scout, alter boy and usher at church, played football everyday and boxed, loved racing, camping, but was just a small skinny kid. I had a vivid imagination and always wanted to be a soldier growing up so I loved army movies and drawing from them.
1984
Hip-Hop became a major influence. My brother (1 yr. younger) and I started DJing, break dancing and creating graffti style art with characters, etc. We got really good fast and became well known and admired in school and around the neighborhood for our "Mad Skillz".
1985
I entered Golightly Technical Center's Mass Media Program where I fell in love with audio & video production. One of my teachers (Ken Sands) was a Motown Audio Engineer that recorded Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.
My brother and I also worked with my father video taping and DJing weddings he photographed. Our father brought home a Commodore computer and by 1988 we upgraded to a cutting edge Amiga computer and worked doing freelance computer graphics while in high school.
1987
Already a professional DJ with a studio record "on wax", a pioneer computer graphic artist and video producer....my father bought an airbrush for us to try.
I started airbrushing posters, t-shirts and denim outfits. I won a citywide design contest and my art was displayed in the Detroit Institute of Arts where it was stolen.
I felt I must be really good for my art to be appealing enough to be stolen in public like that.
1988
My lifelong dream of being a U.S. Marine ended when I was denied due to having chronic bronchitis and started freelancing as a videographer at Barden Cable Station. Although being more technically advanced than older producers I couldn't get hired at the few Detroit TV stations or recording studios.
I was making good money working at a hotel but airbrushing was now getting "hotter than the summer of 88" and my style was in high demand. The airbrush t-shirts I created with Hip-Hop characters were selling out daily!
1993
After living the fast life hustlin' in the streets of Detroit combined with having the hottest airbrush style in Detroit I became a "KINGPIN" with Kingpin Airbrushing, a group of the best urban artist in the country.
We became pioneers in airbrushing customizing new and classic cars, motorcycles, backdrops, and clothes for clients from celebs, to businesses and corporate clients. Every year we traveled around the country and were always a premier attraction winning vendor awards and sponsorships at some of the biggest expos and festivals in the USA.
Also my daughter was born and my dear grandmother died that same year.
1995
Turning course I became a struggling student at age 25 when I was recommended to attend the Center for Creative Studies (CCS) - a tuition doubling University of Michigan’s.
I was accepted into their prestigious Industrial Design program. I started in Transportation Design among the best of the best artist with only 15 of the top rated students in the school being chosen.
I wanted to be a car designer but couldn't afford the classes and supplies needed to finish so I mixed a curriculum of transportation, product, interior and exhibit design. Ironically as a student I created an innovative bottle design that was ahead of the times.
The "upside down" bottle design I created had the top located on the bottom like most lotions, shampoos, ketchup and mustard bottles are made now.
Today many of my CCS peers are leaders in the auto industry designing cars that I remember seeing them sketch in school like Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles Chrysler 300, and GM designer Gary Mack’s Buick Enclave.
1997
A newly wed after marrying my high school sweetheart. Just before our wedding I was flown to Hollywood, California where I stayed in Beverly Hills for over a month designing a cartoon series.
Needing a steady job back home I started working at a local sign shop in Detroit. I met Keith Jackson of Deep Drama Design and we’ve created set designs, scenic art and interior designs together over the next 20 yrs.
I've also toured the country with the stage plays, designing sets, logo's, posters and providing creative direction for many Producer/Writer/Directors such as Tyler Perry, David E. Talbert, Morris Chestnut to name a few.
1999
Created a scenic design for then up and coming director Tyler Perry's first national touring show, T.D. Jakes "Woman Thou Art Loosed" which later was produced as a film in 2004.
2001
After touring the country with stage productions I started working as a sound engineer during services at my church. I returned to TV production working on Comcast Cable's local production crew, recording concerts and events, editing and creating graphic packages for the station.
I passed all the test to be hired by the City of Detroit as an Architect, but was contracted as a producer/editor/photographer for the City of Detroit's Channel 10.
Since 2001 I've worked closely with the mayors of Detroit creating original shows, PSA's, promo's and covering events in the city as part of the Mayor's Office communications team.
2002
Designed a popular clothing line called "The Blu Collection" with Ericka Davis which led me into fashion photography and make-up working with many of Detroit's top models over the next 10 years.
2007
Worked with David E. Talbert to create a book cover for his "Baggage Claim" novel which was produced as a feature film in 2013.
I've also worked with David on many of his shows and in 2007 worked with Morris Chestnut on "Love In The Nick of Tyme" that airs nationally on the BET Network and Netflix.
2009
The recession! Laid off by the City of Detroit I freelanced setting up photo shoots for magazine covers and ads.
While waiting to go to Hollywood to work on David E. Talbert’s film (which was cancelled for the year) I tried moving to Houston, Texas briefly losing a lot in the process. It was a tough lesson learned setting up a hard come back that I slowly recovered from but the bad experience made me much stronger and wiser.
2010
I was called back to work for the City of Detroit, and proud to design the first press briefing studio for Mayor Dave Bing.
2012
Most of my focus was now on working for the City of Detroit as a TV producer. I slowed down a lot on freelance projects, set designs, interior designs, airbrushing and retired from photography to focus on doing original art and studying writing.
I also began doing digital illustrations for book covers and children books that I did a series of that year.
2014
Nominated for an EMMY Award in Michigan. Since 2010 I was given the task of producing and directing the LIVE broadcast of the mayor of Detroit's State of the City Address (2010-present).
I also purchased a home and started a new company HEIRS Creative Company. My plan is to create a lasting legacy through art.
2015
Won a regional EMMY Award in Michigan with 3 other EMMY nominated productions.
Also awarded a Spirit of Detroit Award from Detroit's City Council and became Production Manager for the City of Detroit Channel's 10, 21 and 22.
2017
My 6th year as Producer and Director for the Mayor's State of the City Address live broadcast which I received my 4th EMMY award nomination for writing the intro video.
This was also my 2nd year directing Wayne County's State of the County Address broadcast.
2019
My busiest year ever!
In the same few months I produced and directed the Mayor’s State of the City Address live broadcast, State of the County Address, began intensive Lean Six Sigma Project training and also worked on the stage production of Pride & Joy: The Marvin Gaye Musical creating its scenic designs, producing video and digital content for every scene in the show.
Officially endorsed by Berry Gordy, Jr. I had the privilege of working with a legendary group of people such as Producer Marvin Gaye III, Promoter Quentin Perry, Writer Angela Barrow Dunlap, Director TJ Hemphill and a superb cast and crew.
2020
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world, my time in Detroit has been productive and rewarding.
I received 2 Emmy Award nominations with a team of co-producers in 2020. My painting in honor of Aretha Franklin titled simply “Queen of Soul” was choose for Save ArtSpace Detroit’s billboard exhibition.
Also while working on a fabulous design for the new Joe Louis Southern Kitchen restaurant I was selected to design the iconic poster for the 2020 Detroit Jazz Festival presented by Rocket Mortgage, joining artist such as Andy Warhol and Keith Herring who did previous designs.
2021
Working closely with Joe Louis Barrow Jr. and design team to create our beautifully designed Joe Louis Southern Kitchen in Detroit which is becoming one of the city’s most popular destinations.
And won my 2nd EMMY Award for “The Mr. E Show”.