Bio

S'up, Punks?

It's a warm Tuesday morning in eastern North Carolina. The "Muggles" that 9-5 it in my neighborhood have already been at work for an hour. Birds are chirping and as I write these words two dogs chase each other around my living room. I am at my laptop eating a banana and drinking some O.J. This is how most days begin for me.

My Name is Bukshot. No, that is not what the doctor called me when I was born in Oklahoma or what my mom and dad called me when I was taking my first steps in Texas, it is a name that I chose for myself. If you think you understand, if you think you really know me, you are about to find out that you do not.

But you will.

I'm going to tell you about me, I'm going to tell you about my struggle, I'm going to tell you about my joy, I'm going to tell you about Bukshot.

Ever since I could hold a purple crayon, I have wanted to be an artist. There is something unexplainable that drives me to create. I grew up drawing and it was an outlet for many emotions that I didn't feel I could talk about. When home life was rough or high school had kicked my ass, I always had a sketchbook full of X-Men.

In 1996 I was deployed to Dover, NJ to be a part of a case study in sleep deprivation called "The Joe Kubert School". Those 3 years were terrible. Mentally, emotionally and physically a lot of people up there were in bad places. I was one of those people - my nickname was "Hate Man".

In 1999 I was kicked out for not turning assignments in on time. Before I sank into a depression that would last several years, a teacher of mine, Dave Devries, had some words that would stick with me. "Never give up", He said, "The way you win is by hanging on longer than the other guy. Eventually, someone will have to let you in." It was in my blood. The seed was planted.

A few beers later I was helping a friend celebrate his 21st birthday in Myrtle Beach, SC. I stumbled out of the club with my boys and we began looking for our hotel. A man, just some random guy on the street, stopped me and said something shocking. "I can see it on your face, Bud. You don't want to party like this anymore. Isn't there something you should be doing?" He introduced me to someone I had heard of but never met before. His name is Jesus Christ.

That night my superhero origin was complete and I became Bukshot. Christ entered my life and told me I was going to be ok. I had no reason to trip because he had a plan for me and all I had to do was stick to it.

In 2003 I moved to Tampa, Fl. attempting to get work with a comic book company. It never happened. The business folded after only a month of being there. Most people would be pissed, but I thought of Christ and his plan.

I met my Queen in Tampa. Jennifer LaBarbera makes sure all my emails are answered and that I have clean draws. She has been my ace, my soldier in the trenches and I am forever grateful. She's the reason you are looking at this website and see all the cool artwork. I honestly can't say enough good things about her.

That's it. That's me, my struggle and my joy. Who am I? I'm Bukshot, and if you still don't get it - ask your Mom.

Now its time to roll up my sleeves; put my dogs outside, grab my pencil and take ya'll to church.

One luv,

Buk