About me...

I began my professional art career in second grade where I drew portraits of my classmates as cowboys and firefighters and astronauts in exchange for their milk money. That same year I got third place in the school art fair. I entered a drawing of one of my favorite subjects: T-rex vs. triceratops. The judges loved it so much they assumed I’d traced it and gave me an “honorable mention.” By the time my teacher convinced them I’d drawn it freehand—having watched me draw the same subject countless times—first and second place ribbons were already gone.

In the intervening years I moved around a lot, went to college, got married, had kids, got a job, bought a house. I continued to pursue art through the years with mixed success. I knew art was what I was meant to do, but something was always missing.

In late 2022, I quit my job to pursue art full time. I opened an Etsy shop. I started social media accounts. I watched videos about being a full time creative. One video suggested focusing on just making art for 5 years before thinking about selling it. Ha! Wouldn't that be nice!

I conceived [Ju'ni:k]/stUHf/ as a vessel for all my eclectic artistic pursuits with room to incorporate other interests: vintage and antique stuff, upcycling, movies and video games. It all summed up nicely as 'unique stuff'.

I had very little money and not much direction, but I was determined to give it my best shot. I began throwing stuff against the wall to see what stuck. Eventually I could transition into exclusively doing what I wanted, but in the meantime I had to make money however I could. I was making art that my heart wasn't really in. I think I always had been.

In early 2023 my father passed away.

I put the Etsy shop in "vacation mode". I began going back and forth to Las Vegas to make arrangements, attend the funeral, collect some of his belongings. We weren't close, but it was a profound experience nonetheless. How could it not be? As a catalyst to stop and reflect on the direction of your life, few things compare. I was also suddenly able to take some time to focus on just making art.

So, for the past couple of years I've been doing a lot of art. I've been experimenting with new processes and refining familiar ones. I've finally embraced my calling, I'm doing the best work of my life, and I'm excited to share it with you.