Meet Tim
Biography
I recently graduated from Marquette University, but I'll always be a student. I'm currently earning my TESOL certificate from the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and soon I'll be off to earn my MA in Spanish linguistics. Language is one of my loves in life, along with tea and Futurama. While I'm getting my art and writing careers off the ground, I'm winning bread at a Milwaukee-based marketing-communications agency managing projects and analyzing statistics--with pizzazz.
I'm a kid from southeastern Wisconsin. Yes, I love cheese. And frozen custard. I have eight siblings. In my spare time (when I'm not doing the stuff above or below), I shoot photos, make Web sites, travel and read. Currently I'm reading The Adventures of Tintin.
If you'd like to get in touch with me, just shoot me an email. I love hearing from strangers and I always answer email, so don't be afraid. If you want to be a little more 21st-century about it, send me a tweet.
Art
I've been making art forever. Some of my earliest pieces met their untimely end when my parents worked hard and spent money to get them off their walls. Nowadays, I'm trying to convince people to pay money to get them on their walls... Oh how things change.
My art is characterized by its bright colors, bold lines and often whimsical themes.
Some of my favorite artists, in no particular order: Jan Vermeer, Paul Cezanne, James Whistler, Keith Haring and Edward Hopper.
Some of my favorite artists who are alive and young and working today: Josh Keyes and Nate Frizzell.
Writing
Technically speaking, I started my first novel in eighth grade. I didn't have much of a plan; I just wrote. I abandoned the story at 10,000 words, but I kept on writing other things. I worked on a number of short stories throughout high school and first two years of college. I also completed two novels during my time at Marquette. I serialized my second novel online, and it's also available on Amazon Kindle.
I have another novel in the works. While you're waiting, check out some of my short stories:
- Sun & Moon - Life on a primitive island takes a turn for the worst after the village elder receives an ominous vision from the Sun.
- Our Last Journey - A woman is taken on a mysterious expedition by her husband. When she finds out the purpose of the expedition, and what becomes of it, she wishes she'd never been married.
- Zepp's Diner - A lonely diner owner meditates on his life and the curiosities of his city, Saint-Michael.
Travel
If you had a year to yourself, with no obligations and unlimited money, what would you do? If you're like most people, you'd go off and see the world. I'm the same way, but I believe that travel should not be relegated to hypothetical situations--I myself specialize in traveling on a shoestring.
Popping ears, awkward situations, biting fear, boredom, aha moments, snoring hostel roommates, museums, graffiti, long plane rides... I love everything about travel (though I don't always appreciate it in the moment).
When I go abroad, I tend to journal extensively. And draw. And take photos.
Read about my travels!
- Poland - I studied abroad for a semester at the University of Warsaw, blogging all the way.
- South America - The summer after my sophomore year, my friend Diego and I took a two-month trip around South America. I wrote up an eight-part account of our journey, published as Facebook notes. Read Tales from the Other America here:
- Mexico City - I studied abroad for a summer at the Mexico City campus of Tec de Monterrey.
- Europe - When I graduated from high school, I sold my car and went off alone to Europe for a month on a sort of art history pilgrimage. I kept a journal on my first time away from home.
Running
I started running during college, but I never went more than a mile at a time until I turned 21. I ran my first 5K race in November 2010, and since then I've been addicted to running. (Perhaps because it doesn't require hand-eye coordination.)
I graduated to an 8K in April 2011, and I ran my first marathon in October 2011 (and then I ran my second just three months after that).
Now I'm on a mission to run a marathon in every U.S. state. You'll see sprinklings of my progress throughout my blog.
