This is only for devoted souls.

I grew up a troubled kid, I got into trouble a lot with the law starting at a really young age(busted for commercial burglary right at the age of 12). As I grew up, I surrounded myself with some crazy kids. During my high school years here in LA LA land, I discovered snowboarding, and it become this means of escape from the stupid shit my friends were getting themselves into(for his eighteenth b-day one of my friends went off to spend a year in LA county for assault) It was great in the beginning, I always had a love for skateboarding, but couldn't do it for the life of me, but I could and did learn to get really good on the old shred stick(slang for snowboard). I was always interested in art, but all I really knew about was painting and drawing, and I really sucked at that too. As I got better at snowboarding all of its possibilities began to kinda take hold, and pretty soon I was obsessed. I changed my whole life to become the best I could be. I stopped partying, I became a vegan, I spent my summers and days off in the gym, and I started competing, it was like a job at one point, even though I've never gotten a monthly check. When I got back into school, I really thought I could do both with an equal amount of effort and devotion. I was so wrong. Ya I've been learning stuff, but I've ignored a lot of what my education has offered. I don't think I was being real about how much effort it takes to become a great artist( whatever the fuck that means) It's not just about making visually interesting, technically sound work. There is so much more involved with becoming successful. A knowledge of history, both past and present, a constant interaction and discourse with the art world, and a willingness to constantly push yourself. When I was totally focused on snowboarding, school and art was often compromised, put off, and neglected. I've seen many of my fellow students progress so much in the same amount of time that I've been in school. So now I'm at this point where I've been doing my best to distance myself from the sport. It fucking hurts by the way, not to mention predictions are claiming that this will be one of the best years in over half a decade, and I've started to get some recognition in the industry. Oh, I'm also sittin on two, non-refundable season passes to Bear and Mammoth, which doesn't help matters at all. Understand, this is like a drug to me, it's hard to be a casual user in my case. It's kinda like all or nothin.

And, so, that's my question to all who read this, what have you sacrificed in the order to become more, truly devoted to the making of art? And don't follow up with some flowery b.s., and this isn't a sympathy letter. I really want to know about the pain and suffering that you've incurred through your artistic journey.

Not that it even matters, but here's some random footage of me from past seasons. I'm not really sure why I need to force these on you, but in case you wondering bout my skills, check it out. Yeah I'm know flying tomato, but I've been known to turn some heads. In the amateur realm I was even ranked third in the nation at one time.

O.k. I'm done suckin myself off now. enjoi.