I was born in Rochester, NY and graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in illustration. My junior year at Syracuse was spent studying in London, England. Up until then, I was considering working for Disney Studios either as an animator or painting backgrounds. Animation has always been a huge influence in my work. But my landlady in the UK just happened to be a children’s author/illustrator. I have always loved the art in children’s books so the creative light bulb went ‘ping’ above my head and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. However . . . it took me 217 rejections over an 18 year period before my first book was accepted for publication. Prior to that, I illustrated for a number of children’s magazines and a newspaper for kids called ’The Pennywhistle Press’. For six years, I was their ‘Hidden Picture’ artist in addition to painting the occasional cover. Thus far, I have three picture books to my credit - one as illustrator (City Witch, Country Switch) and two as illustrator/author (Scary Fright, Are You All Right? and Maddie’s Monster Dad). Periodically, I work at the Strong Museum of Play as both a performer and a teaching artist. I also have a caricature business on Etsy.com called Crazy Face Caricatures. My website is: www.artsykidatheart.com. I have been VERY happily married to my wonderful wife, Janice, for almost 30 years now. We have three terrific children, Tess, Brent, and Tori, and two VERRRRRRRY energetic kitties named Sadie and Annie!