ABOUT
As a child, I was socially awkward and struggled to make friends. So from a very early age, my friends were fictitious comic book characters. I found solace through their stories and I was inspired, excited and captivated by them. For as long as I can remember, I was fascinated by the hero’s stories and emotions that were brilliantly brought to life by the strokes and colors of the fantastic artists tasked with this incredible job.
I spent entire days drawing and found myself drawing through many nights as well. When I was eight years old, I was also inspired by and obsessed with Greek mythology and medieval warfare books and remember redrawing the characters and putting them into my own worlds and stories.
I love the idea of my art being the vehicle that conveys a good story and figuring out ways to bring these characters that live in my imagination to life. Whether it is through a single illustration, through sequential art, or contributing my designs to a piece from a different medium, I try to convey their feelings, struggles, trials and tribulations into seemingly real characters.
Spartan inspired by the movie 300. 2007.
Perseus drawing copied from a Greek Mythology book.
World War II comic. October 2006.
At 8 years old, my fascination with superheroes began because of the movie The Dark Knight. The idea of someone going through life on their own, searching for truth and using all their power to exhaustion for a noble cause, resonated with me. Batman was my first hero. He’s still my favorite hero in many ways.
Subsequently, the poignant story in Batman: Court of Owls opened my eyes to the potential of comics as a medium and inspired me to begin not only collecting comics, but redrawing the characters over and over again to develop muscle memory and attempt to master the comic book visual language. The book influenced me in profound ways and played a big part in my decision to be a comic artist. It was at this time that I drew my first comic book: Shadow! (I knew nothing about the 20th century pulp hero of the same name). I would spend most of my time in school and at home drawing the comic. In a matter of a few weeks I'd drawn three chapters, totalling over 40 pages.
The Dark Knight. Warner Bros Studios. Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Batman: Court of Owls. By Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
Shadow chapter 1 cover
Shadow chapter 3 cover
Shadow chapter 2 cover
My greatest inspirations come from the comic book art of Jim Lee, Frank Frazetta, Frank Miller, Dave Gibbons, Bernie Kriegstein, Mike Mignola, Eduardo Risso, and Greg Capullo. I also find inspiration in superhero films and the work of Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Denis Villeneuve. Other big sources of inspiration are 20th-century illustration, from artists like Joseph Leyendecker, Winsor McCay, Joseph Newton Howitt, J. Allen St. John, and Frank Frazetta. Finally, art from classical antiquity and from the Renaissance has inspired me lately.
Jim Lee
Bernie Kriegstein
Mike Mignola
Frank Miller
I refined my drawing style after taking Fernando Leon Gonzales' (Teenage Mutant, Ninja Turtles, Ciudad: Later adapted as the Netflix film Extraction) drawing classes in Cordoba, Argentina in 2013-14. Fernando's teachings introduced me to the vital concept of perspective and inspired me to design my own characters.
Fernando Leon Gonzales' art. From the graphic novel Ciudad. Later adapted to Netlix as Extraction.
A duo of superhero characters I designed in Fernando's class.
A page from an action comic I created in Fernando's class.
A page from an action comic I created in Fernando's class.
In 2015, I discovered two of the biggest masterpieces in comic book history: Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns. These two graphic novels finally convinced me that comic books are a valid medium were transcendent stories can take place.
In 2016, during my last year of high school, I had the greatest opportunity to meet a real life hero, Juan Ferreyra, a DC Comics and Marvel artist (known for drawing Green Arrow, Wolverine and Spider-Man Noir). He invited me to his studio, opening a door into the secrets of the industry, artistically, financially and theoretically.
Watchmen. By Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons & John Higgins
The Dark Knight Returns. By Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley
Juan Ferreyra's art. From Killmonger #5
In 2017, I moved to the United States, to attend the Academy of Art University, studying illustration with an emphasis on comic book art. Attending art school has been an eye opening experience so far, and I've experimented and been introduced to a variety of tools and mediums that influence and shape my work and style.
Enjoying a Still Life Painting class. Instructed by Kevin Moore.
Final project critique from a Comic Layout class taught by Gary Amaro (DC Comics, Vertigo, Prince Valiant)
I'm lucky to have found my passion and that thing that excites me at such an early age. Although l now enjoy the company of friends, I still have the awe and wonderment of that little boy whenever I put pen to pad. I actually still spend a majority of my free time locked in my room drawing into the night. But through my own hero's journey, and learning better people skills, I draw inspiration for my characters from the quirky, crazy and inspiring people I meet through my travels and in San Francisco.
My main purpose in life is to do what I love, have fun, and draw inspiration from life's stories to put into my characters... and hopefully, I can leave a lasting impression on the industry and future artist-kids who find comfort, connection and creativity in the world of comics.