In 2017, I started my training in the studio of Atelier Joel Carson Jones. In 2008, Joel Carson Jones was granted the title of Living Master by the International Art Renewal Center. Under Joel’s instruction, I started this journey with creating highly realistic charcoal drawings starting with the most basic shapes and forms, and then moving into full compositions containing shapes, textures, tones, and values. This was to influence my current and future work in ways that I am grateful for and could never imagine.