Auto-Biography It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in front of my parents' Apple 2E computer system, trying to load games from a 5.25" floppy drive. It's hard to believe that was almost 20 years ago. I was born in 1981 in San Jose, California, the so called Capital of Silicon Valley. I was raised by both of my parents, and have lived in the Bay Area the majority of my life. When I look back on my life it is surprising to see how important Art has been to me. It was evident early on that I had an artistic eye so it confuses me sometimes to think about how long it took me to realize it. I have always paid very close attention to detail. As a kid, I would stack LEGOs (LEGO) systematically organizing them by color and shape. Soon enough I got bored with the booklet models and I began making my own. In my mind I would run over all the flaws with the default booklet models. I loved making complex free standing robots with joints. I pushed myself to make every robot better and stronger then the last. I studied a handed me down art book on the movement of animals that I got from my Uncle Maris so that I could make the joints function properly. I became extremely good at anatomy for someone my age. These skills stood out in my work and earned me a few awards. I also got published for the first time. At only 8 years old I had used my position in my elementary school's ASB to create an After School Art Program. I was grateful to be able to help teach the class. It was a hit and included students of all grade levels, 1st to 8th. Unfortunately my time in the class was short lived. I was diagnosed with a life threatening disease called A-Plastic Anemia (AAMIF). With only days to live I found out my older brother Jason was a compatible donor. I under went a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Chemotherapy. The recovery period was rough and I stayed in the hospital for many months. My mother stayed with me the entire time. I remember the time she dedicated to me during that period and I have tried to apply the strength and patience she showed me in my own life. My parents and peers supported me even when times were rough and I gained confidence from all types of experiences. In Middle School (grades 5th - 8th) my friend Josh and I would spend all our free time after school making small 2D Animations with a Disney animation software. There were no limitations and no rules. I learned how to use the computer to create different colored pixels that would simulate shade and shadow on my characters. I began to realize the power of a computer. I worked closely with my dad who had formerly worked for Apple Computer (Apple), to create my own computer. I loved mixing, matching, and fixing all the hardware so that it would work together. My dad being an Engineer pushed me to focus on this kind of work and I suppose that's how I started doing all this multimedia stuff. The Internet was just being introduced to the Main Stream Market and I began studying Websites. I wanted to create Websites. I had picked up HTML and Photoshop (Adobe) from practicing here and there but being self taught, I would always hesitate to take on larger projects. I realized the importance of being able to provide on my promise. After a few years of working on small projects of my own, I began studying Website Design more exclusively. In early 1996, I created my first website (no longer online) and switched my focuses over to Web Design. I always had plans of getting to the Animation part of my passion later on. In the mean time I picked up some text books and started reading. I began teaching myself the things I wish I could have taken at my High School. Later on, because of the principles I was learning I was awarded again for Outstanding Progress in Industrial Art. I joined many of the on campus clubs and soon my voice became an important part of building the new school curriculum. Program names like Autocad (Autodesk) and 3D Studio Max (3DMax) had always lingered in the back of my mind. My Uncle Andy, a certified Network Technician and an Industrial Graphic Artist, used programs like those and told me of their capabilities. I started a Computer Club and pushed my high school to get programs like Autocad in our drafting classes. Outside of school I was also growing. I applied at a startup software company called NetformX (NFX). I am happy to say I got the job and it wasn't long before I knew everyone at the company. While being molded in a professional atmosphere I was able to keep some money in my pocket. I soon started working my way up. I got my first raise after impressing one of the managers. I created a quick tutorial website (no longer online) on how to convert audio files back and fourth between MP3 and WAV files. I have been there now for five years and I enjoy staying because of all the new things I keep learning. My coworkers and I have fun challenging each other with random trivia. I think it is important to be well balanced. At work I was studying the business world and learning programs like Excel, Power Point, and Clientele. At school I was studying people, their histories, their accomplishments, and their minds. After high school I went to a Junior College called West Valley (WVC) in Saratoga, California. I had hoped to get my AA and transfer to a UC. I declared my major in Psychology because I love to interact with people. My experiences as a teacher and my extroverted nature helped me appreciate the importance of helping others. I Co-Captained a team for a volunteer walk-a-thon (MS Society). I designed shirts that were silk screened for all the members to wear. The team continues to walk every year and we have raised thousands of dollars. When I was creating the graphics for the shirts something strange happened. I thought I would brush up on my old illustration skills so I signed up for an elective Photoshop class at my College. Shortly into the first day of classes I realized that I had actually been enrolled in the wrong class. I was instead enrolled in a Maya (Alias) class. I immediately took to the class because of my Autocad experience. I absolutely knew that this was the field for me. I switched my Major and started looking at 3D Animation Schools. I took scrupulous notes and devoted all my time to my models. I spent hours inside the classroom sitting in front of a screen, learning every tool I could. Sometimes this caused me to sit in on other classes. Soon, other students started to notice my work and then the other teachers started noticing my work. I was asked by two separate teachers at West Valley if I would work on special assignments for them. For the first teacher, I oversaw many projects for his startup Animation Studio. The company would normally take on a project animating a case for court but occasionally they would do Television Commercials. I got to create a 2D Animation hoping for a spot as a Spanish Commercial. The second teacher asked me to design the cover of a book the College published. I try not to have a specific art style. When I am working on a professional piece I have found that it makes it easier if I am able to cater myself to the work. Sometimes a certain medium or style is more appropriate for the piece. I try to be sure the medium I am using for the piece aids the design somehow with its attributes. Diversity makes a better Artist, which is why every three months I try something new. In my free time I try to practice other styles. My galleries display many different medium types and styles. I put myself on a three month plan for each new style. I've found that it is long enough to grasp the principles but short enough that I don't get discouraged if I don't like it. Then another dream came true. I found a 3D Animation School that I liked and I applied. I was accepted and I began attending Cogswell Polytechnical College (CPC) in Sunnyvale, California. I like Cogswell because of its small communal atmosphere. I fit right in with many other artists that share my abilities. I found my place again on the ASB and began working on making the school a better place. I have been working at getting a more physically active curriculum. Many Art Schools lack Physical Education courses and because Cogswell was one of these schools I started a Club that allows students a way and place to exercise. So far it has been a big hit. Sometimes artists need a little push in the right direction. On campus I have created ways to reward teachers and students by helping organizing Prestigious Ceremonies and Award Shows. I was also asked by the school to chaperone Cogswell's Summer Camp Programs (The Sun Article). It allows me the ability to mentor the young students while they are being introduced to the Industry. I enjoy it on a higher level because it allows me to reach others by sharing a part of myself through my school and work. It seems that I too needed a push and the summer 2004 Digi-Pen camp kids really inspired me to take a new direction with my art. I have begun a small project which includes researching all the old games I loved as a kid. I have been picking apart stories to find a balance between story and action. The game’s story is nearly completed and some of the coding has begun. I have explored and opened up new ideas for a Prequel and a Sequel which will hopefully come out shortly after. I find myself returning frequently to my fundamental belief system. Through the course of making the story for the game, I’ve evaluated what lessons I would want someone to learn while playing my game. I enjoy participating in activities that help a wide range of people. This element is reflected in the game which can be interpreted many different ways depending on one’s own level. For the younger crowd there is a fancy fast pace action that keeps the player interested and for the adult, a much more involved political, spiritual, and emotional undertone. Keeping updated with current events has always been fairly important to me. My deep interest in politics has served as the main driving force for me in 2004. I joined a political campaign and became very active in the Presidential Elections. I entered some of my art pieces into a political cartoon contest that was intended to place winners in the local Mercury Newspaper (Mercury News). I also helped participate in formal open debates and dedicated time in a booth to get people registered to vote. Shortly after that, I served as Art Director for the 10,000 Kites Video (10,000 Kites) and had the pleasure of working with Iain McCaig as well as many other artists, on the film. It was fascinating to meet with the project visionaries, Adi Yekutieli and George Nustas, to discuss the short teaser and how it will help promote the peaceful protest that will take place in Israel in April, 2005. I have been trying to break my way into the gaming industry for some time now. Continuing to work off and on for a Research Group in San Francisco, I became more fimiliar with Electronic Arts (EA). I participated in a Focus Group geared toward helping develope their new Battlefield II game (Battlefield 2), that is set to be released in the summer of 2005. I had such a pleasant first impression when visiting the building that I decided to apply for a summer internship. I am now helping to composite and texture some photos from the new highly anticipated mafia hit, The Godfather (Godfather).