I've been drawing since I can remember. My grandma was an art teacher and set up a little studio for me when I was young. I would experiment with play-doh and finger paints. I think that’s where it all started. I went to a crap-ass public school and fought my way through every class drawing when i could. The art rooms played host to people who thought it would be fun to steal the markers to sniff and use all the drafting tape to wrap up their desks. So needless to say there wasn't very much put into our art program. Though it was one of the teachers there that really pushed me further into comic book and game art. From there I went to college and met my wonderful wife and some great friends. I am a huge hockey fan and play as well. Chicago has a nice array of ice rinks in the suburbs. Hockey is a great way to get out some aggression. Especially all that built up aggression I have for computers. I've often said I hope my computer actually feels pain when I have to force restart it!

D.R.U.G.S: To you, what is the hardest thing when creating?

When I work I would imagine it to be like a zen thing or a dream. Once i get all my Ideas and reference together I kind of just zone out and go into the work. A lot of times I don't notice people standing next to me. Its not like i don't see them it is that my mind is to busy on other things to do anything about it. I would have to say though the hardest part is leaving the work and calling it finished. Some times to warm up i like to go through an old sketch book or back a few pages in a current one and continue on drawings that I started and never finished or just add on to them. A half an hour of that usually gets me nice and warmed up.

D.R.U.G.S: Do you put much merit into training, schooling or more into practice and raw talent?

Raw talent is very important. I believe there has to be some there but its not everything. I think drawing everyday is a huge. I also think that good work habits and exploration is also a big part of being an artist. Schooling and training are some good places to get that but not always the only places to find that. I believe that once you stop learning and changing that your art will become stale.

D.R.U.G.S: What music do you prefer to jam out on while working?

I listen to a lot of music. It all depends on my mood and what I'm working on. My music preference ranges from crazy techno that sounds like a couple of the muppets slamming some giant marbles together, to mellow stuff like Sigur Rós or orchestral pieces and soundtracks. Although often you can find me with headphones on listening to absolutely nothing for hours because i just got too caught up into what I'm doing to start the music again after a song or album ends. Some music you'll find I most often play: Sigur Ros, Flogging Molly, Squarepusher, Jaga Jazzist, Aphex Twin, Bjork, Cold Play, Bran Van 3000, Gorillaz and i recently got into Jonhy Cash.

D.R.U.G.S: Craziest thing that happened while you were at college that you can tell us about?

Also a hard question. One kind cool thing is for about a week my roommates and i pushed all the computer equipment out to the edges of the room and set up a knee hockey game. Which really was just an excuse to brawl. It was amazing we didn't hurt any computers or furniture, just ourselves. We used pillows for goals and had some small plastic hockey sticks covered in foam, from a recent Disney World trip, but they still hurt! We got very competitive and set up tournaments which lasted long into the AM. We played until we could no longer go on due to rug burn and bruises from foam hockey stick beating.

D.R.U.G.S: What does your breakfast usually consist of?

I'm a huge fan of breakfast bars, or anything in bar form really. Once a great man turned 5 pounds of spaghetti into a compact bar form and ate it in one bite.

D.R.U.G.S: Do you prefer work in digital medium or traditional?

I like them both. I think they provide different work flows but in reality are the same thing. Sure you can copy and paste and work in layers which is great, but a computer is not going to make you a better painter or drawer. I use the same techniques and approaches on a computer as i would in my sketchbook, paper or canvas.

D.R.U.G.S: Are you a PC or Mac guy?

I would imagine a few years ago this kind of question could have sent someone into a tail spin of emotional responses... for me i really don't care. For sake of the question, I prefer a mac, but I have worked on and owned both a Mac a PC and really don't care what I'm working on as long as it keeps up with my workflow.

D.R.U.G.S: If you could choose another career what would it be and why?

I would love to play hockey for a living or one of those guys that makes up the food for Taco Bell. I just image a couple of guys just hanging out in some lab somewhere with all sorts of taco bell ingredients and just whipping up some crazy stuff all day.

D.R.U.G.S: Are you right handed or left handed?

I'm a right but open doors with my left.

D.R.U.G.S: Longest amount of time you have put into one piece?

Hard question, a lot i would think. I like to work several hour sessions. Like 1-4 hours at a time, and the break for a bit recharge and then keep going. That doesn't happen all the time when deadlines are involved.

D.R.U.G.S: Are you a gamer? What’s your choice at the moment?

I am currently addicted to World of Warcraft.

D.R.U.G.S: First thing you think of when you wake up and last thing you think of before you go to bed?

My wife. I usually when i wake up I have some obnoxious song stuck in my head and i sing like 5 words over and over in my head for a long time and fight to get those out of my head. Some Notable songs are Modona's Like a Prayer . not good.

Mad thanks goes out to Drew Wolf for the interview and for letting us to steal his precious time.