Born in Cisneros, Colombia, he immigrated to Puerto de la Cruz, Venezuela, where he joined the merchant marines, and moved to New York in 1995. His interest in painting began in Velenzuela upon his discovery of the foliage of the native araguaney tree, which is commonly an intense, bright yellow, which was introduced to him by a friend. He continues to paint and evolve this initial practice that stems from that initial meeting point and motivation.