From an early age, I was exposed to art. I started painting as a young boy, with much encouragement and support from my parents. As most homes have magazines strewn about, our home had art books strewn about. I resisted formal art education because I had images and ideas in my head that were mine – and I was repelled at the thought of someone telling me how to do something – as it felt limiting to me. Instead, I studied on my own. I spent hours looking at the work of the masters – and more hours experimenting to unlock the secrets of their techniques.