Hi Sea of Doom, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I am, and have always been, a creature of habit. Routine has been the structuring force of my life since childhood. My parents have always had a routine that they follow (“Friday is Pizza Night,” etc.), so, as a child, I followed suit.

I followed this well into adulthood. While I always pursued my art and passions, I did so with the safety net of having a non-art related day job. The plan was that one day, when my finances were just right, I would scale back to part-time work and then eventually pursue art full time.

It took a pandemic for me to throw that carefully crafted, risk-adverse plan to the wayside. After finally creating full time, I saw that there was no way for me to backpeddle to that old life. I told myself that I wasn’t getting any younger and that this was the time to take the plunge.

It was a risk that was rewarded.

There is no room for growth when you constantly re-tread the same mediums and subject matter that you’re “good” at. It’s a surefire way to walk in circles. In the past few years, I have embraced new mediums and drastically larger scales for my work, and it has allowed me to break my own pattern of cyclical creation and to become more diverse and dynamic.

As of now, I currently work in a variety of mediums: large scale mural work (aerosol and brush work), stained glass, fine art painting, and fiber art (mainly embroidery). I want to learn how to do everything. I’ll even grit my teeth and bear the uncomfortable periods where I am not instantly good at something, in order to grow in a different way. Risk is everything. Not every Friday night needs to be Pizza Night.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Ever since I was a child, my imagination has been vast. I have found that over the years, naturally, I have created my own set of characters and stories, essentially creating my own mythology in which all of my creations live. Even the name I use for my art, Sea of Doom, came to me in a dream.

And while that all sounds as if my brain just gifted me everything I have today in terms of my business and career, it was my work ethic that got me to this place. Even when I had a full-time day job, I dedicated an equal amount of time to my art career, which meant that I chose to sacrifice sleep. Many nights I got about 4.5-5 hours of sleep, tops. It was a trade off that needed to be made in order for me to further myself while also completely supporting myself.

I will forever credit learning how to screen print as the catalyst for how my brain organizes itself to this day. Screen printing is very process and order oriented, but it also allows for multitasking. For example, as a screen dries, you can prep the other steps. There is no wasted time. Everything is efficient.

Even thought I am a full-time artist today, I still strive to make each day the most efficient day it can be. I have a hard time with “rest.” I don’t find taking time off to be restful. I can’t deal with pausing my creation to let my brain spin its wheels for a day while my body rests.

Because of this, at one point in my career, I got very into outsourcing my ouput and getting merchandise manufactured. It’s still relatively small scale, but it allows me to sell my personal art at a lower price point while I also work on larger, personal or professional work that is more lucrative. I want my art to be accessible to anyone who wants to support it, so I found this approach to be a solid way to do just that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am terrible at this because my happy place is wherever I am creating! But let me give it a shot. I live in Philadelphia, so all these places are in Philly or Philly adjacent.

The first place that is truly unique to this city that any self describing weirdo needs to visit, is the Mutter Museum. It’s packed with medical oddities and just truly fascinating specimens. It is over stimulation in its most odd, amazing form.

My favorite venue in the city to see a show is Underground Arts.

Any time you can catch a Gunnar Montana production at The Latvian Society, I truly urge you not to miss it. He creates amazing, immersive experiences. I am consistently in awe of every new endeavor of his.

Sphinx and Snakeskin is the brick and mortar home for Blood Milk Jewels, the pinnacle of dark, enigmatic art that also doubles as physical adornment (that’s my fancy way of saying jewelry, but their work is so much more than just jewelry). Their show room is incredible, but is only open for special events and by appointment. It’s a very mindfully created space and everyone who works there is an absolute favorite of mine.

As far as getting out and doing things, these days I love to pick thru antiques most of all. I don’t want to blow up my favorite secret spots, but I won’t totally gate keep. Thunderbird Salvage in Fishtown is a favorite. My other favorite local spot has since closed its doors, but will be opening an online shop: Little Devil’s Curiosities. Harrison really knows how to find all of the cool things and then sell them to you. And, if you really want to adventure, I urge you to head to the Berlin Mart in the summer, on a weekend, to experience their outdoor flea market. You can find some truly unique things there, and they also have some killer apple cider donuts.

As far as food goes, Philly is KILLER. My favorite pizza is the Sicilian pizza from OG Pizza (you can ask for them to make it crispy if you’re a burnt edges fiend like me). My favorite cheese steak is is from Cosmi’s in South Philly (get the seeded roll). My favorite ramen is the Cha Shu Ramen from Da-Wa. If you want a low key Shining-themed restaurant that is so subtle in its theme that you won’t even notice, go to Lloyd (the food and cocktails are great). Murph’s has the best pasta in an unconventional irish pub setting. I am getting too hungry now, so I’ll stop there.

Houndstooth Tattoo is the most beautiful tattoo shop in the city, with a number of artists featuring a diverse set of styles.

And, if I’m going to unabashedly rep myself, if you are in the city on any second Saturday of the month, you’ve got to check out the market I run: the Spring Arts Market. It’s located at 1010 Spring Garden Street. Each month we feature a different line up of 30 local vendors who sell anything from art to antiques to vintage, etc. When its nice out we are fortunate enough to have the School of Rock House Band play out front of the venue. It’s a fun time. 12pm-5pm, the second Saturday of each month.

I’d also like to shout out the Richmond Street Flea, which is the last Sunday of each month in Port Richmond. You can shop a ton of vendors and also hit up local businesses like Big Top Vintage or Tea Rose Tattoo.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I want to shoutout my family. My parents have always supported my artistic endeavors 100%, even if they didn’t understand my inspirations or motivations at times. My dad gifted me with my cynical nature and, I’d like to think, my steady hand. My mom is my biggest fan and supporter, always. If you come to a show I am in or have produced, she is there in full Mama Doom gear, repping her weirdo daughter. My brother Matt, his wife Gina, and their three children (Anna, Brandon, and Mia) have always been supporters of everything I create, and even sport their own Doom temporary tattoos. I am continually humbled to be as accepted and celebrated as I am by my family. I know that is rare.

I also want to shoutout my partner, the devil by my side who is always whispering in my ear “don’t you think you should make it even BIGGER?”, Evan Lovett. Evan has been in my life for six years now, and since day one he has made it his (and my) mission to push me further, to make things bigger, to push through and thrive in the uncomfortable growing stages, and, most importantly, to embrace chaos.

Website: www.seaofdoom.com

Instagram: seaofdoom

Other: seaofdoom.myshopify.com

Image Credits
all taken by me.

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