As a child my grandmother taught me how to paint. Starting young with tree sketches and I would sit for hours whisking tree branch after branch in charcoal. In grade school I loved drawing the exaggerated looks of comic book characters, and which soon drew me to the stylization of arcade games. A love of electronics, pixels, and computers followed which set me on life of mixing Art and Technology. I then pursued college classes in both computer engineering and fine art, eventually combining the 2 with a BA degree in graphic design.

Post grad I helped start the apparel company TravisMathew in 2007 where I've lead the design department for 2 decades. In my current VP of Product & Design position I have the unique opportunity to source materials around the world, and engage in international business. A love for travel resulted from these opportunities and I would spend every PTO day I had extending days and weekends, to my work travel …. to explore the unknown.

When I was younger and I would sketch a tree or landscape, I felt like I was collecting that object in a sense. I had been seeing so many things on my travels to foreign lands, but I needed more, I needed to 'collect' my experiences. Enter photography ... my next obsession. My philosophy in photography is to let it push me to go further than I was before, and to open my eyes even wider.

Over these years the biggest constant in my life was painting. Between jobs, studies, travel, and other hobbies, I never stopped my paint brush. It's the thing most familiar to me, and yet so challenging. It's my 100% pure escape and unrestrained expression. It’s allowed me to do over 20 shows in Los Angeles in my art career, and sold over 100 pieces.

What's happening now?

I continue to design and travel by trade. My photography hunting, and paint stroking is ever-expansive. Thank you for jointing me on this adventure.

~ Joey Q