I was born in a small town called Rolla, Missouri. My older brother and I were born and raised there to a Filipino mother and Black father. Like most kids, I loved to make art. I knew early on that I wanted to live a creative life, but I didn’t know what that might look like. I made a decision to focus on graphic design as my creative outlet in high school and I continued studying graphic design through college – still making art along the way. I go by the name “thegullyartist”, being inspired by a movie and wanting the name to represent the raw authentic parts of myself in my art. You’ll see a lot of portraiture, animals, nature scenes and lettering in my work. You’ll also see some interesting abstract characters and scenes. I consider my art to be an exploration of color, symbolism and cultural representation that sets it apart and something that is continually evolving. When I’m not making art, you’ll find me taking my dog for a walk, playing kickball or volleyball, going for a run / hike or preparing for a race, and spending time with family and friends.