"I have been highly influenced, directly and indirectly, by a myriad of artists, but one of my greatest influences came from artist Jacob Lawrence. I found his work to be very intriguing, and I thoroughly appreciated the story-telling aspects of his art. I had became very interested in the art of story-telling and was driven to find inspiring works that would guide my direction as an artist. During my childhood, I had always listened to the stories that my elders shared, and I learned about its importance in African American culture. I was inspired to find a way to incorporate what I learned into my art."