I am an artist. One of the main reasons I am an artist is because my dad is an artist. So when I was growing up, I would see my dad's drawings and I would try to make my drawings look like his. It was hard, but with lots of practice, I got better and better. When I was in grade school, I was the kid that was always drawing cartoons for my friends. I would copy cartoon characters from television shows or movies, or my favorite super heros or the characters from Star Wars. I would draw huge spaceships and cars and pretend that they were mine and think about what it would be like to drive them around or fly off into space.

As I got older, I realized that a lot of my friends that used to color and draw pictures had stopped because they were interested in other things. I liked doing other things too, but I loved drawing most of all, so I kept doing it. And just like anything, the more you practice it, the better you get.

At the high school I went to, at the end of the year they always had a big Senior Art Show. And at the end of the show, they gave a big trophy to the student that had the best artwork. So, when my last year started, I decided I wanted to win that award more than anything. So I spent the entire year working very hard and creating the best drawings and paintings I could. I had a lot of fun with my friends too, but when I was in Art class, I was always listening to the teacher and doing my best. Then the big day came when they announced the winner in front of the whole school, and I won! It was my favorite memory from school, because I proved to myself I could do anything that I set my mind to.

After high school, my parents wanted me to go to a special college just for artists. My mom and dad loved the fact that I was an artist, and they were always very supportive of me pursuing my dreams. So that's what I did. I went to The Columbus College of Art and Design, which is right in the same city where I grew up.

It was such a cool thing, because in my old school there was only a small group of artists, but at this school everybody was an artist! It was a great experience, and I worked very hard while I was there, because I really wanted art to be my job. And this school helped all the students be the best they could be, so that when we were done, people would pay us for our artwork and art would be our everyday job.

Now, that's exactly what I do. I make drawings and design logos for all sorts of companies, I even once illustrated workbooks for little kids to help them learn how to write the letters of the alphabet. I have been working as a professional designer/illustrator for over 16 years now! I have an office in my house, and I do a lot of my artwork on the computer. But I still draw pictures for fun like the ones Ms. Blunt showed you.

I have a wife and two sons, Jonah (6) and Izzy (3). We have lots of fun making artwork together as a family. My favorite medium is pen and ink, but I also like to make huge pictures with oil paint, and sometimes watercolors.

I hope you all keep drawing for a long time or making art in some way. And if you love it enough, maybe you'll grow up and be a professional artist just like me!

Best,

Josh